#OscarsMightNotBeSoWhite: The lack of Diversity at the Oscars may not be solely the Academy’s Fault

The Academy Awards began almost a century ago. The first Oscars ceremony occurred in 1929 and celebrated films made in 1927 and 1928. It has become the premiere award for those in film.

Yet, in that almost 100 year history, the top awards show, dubbed “Hollywood’s Biggest Night” does less to display the wide array of cinematic art form and talent. What is and has been on display is the sheer lack of diversity celebrated or even acknowledged.

For Black creatives, these glaring disparities are painful, yet consistent.

There only needs to be a cursory examination of Oscars History in order to see the problem manifest. Exploring the top awards of the evening, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture illustrates this issue more clearly.

The Academy Awards has awarded directors for almost a century. In that time, no Black Director has ever won “Best Director.”

Of those nominated, the first Black director to ever be nominated was John Singleton for Boys in the Hood in 1991. The next nomination was not until 2009 for Lee Daniel’s Precious. Steve McQueen, a British director, was nominated in 2013 for 12 Years A Slave. Barry Jenkins followed in 2016 for Moonlight…