So I guess people are already boycotting the Oscars this year because of #OscarsSoWhite. Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee have come out and said that they won't go to the Oscars because of its lack of diversity (meaning black people) yet again.
For starters, I didn't know these two people even existed until I did my Human Geography homework of relating news to the class, but that's because of my not being a big movie goer, I guess. Mister Lee has said that this lack of diversity has to change, which is why he is boycotting the Oscars. He has a smart enough head on his shoulders, saying that the real problem is in the Hollywood studios (so I don't see why boycotting the Oscars is gonna help). Then he goes on to say that Hollywood should be forced to have at least one minority try out for roles, alluding to the NFL's Rooney Rule, which states that teams need to interview at least one minority for head coach and other senior positions. He basically wants Affirmative Action for movies.
Gee, that's great and all, but how is that going to solve anything? There's a LOT more white actors than black or Hispanic or Asian or anything other than white actors. I think that may be why there's a LOT of white nominees in the Oscars, or am I just being racist, here? Even if minorities try out, they don't need to be picked if the people in charge don't want them for whatever reason. Unless Spike Lee means Hollywood should be forced to have a quota for minorities in movies, which could very well lead to a declination of quality of movies. If you need a quota for minority actors, then Hollywood is either really racist, or there aren't enough minority actors and not enough particularly
good minority actors. I think it's a bit of both, but more of the latter.
And why do people take the Oscars seriously, anyway? Are you going to let a couple coots tell you who is better than whom? Leonardo DiCaprio has yet to win an Oscar, and he's one of the best actors out there. You know that blood on his hand in that Django Unchained scene? That's real blood. He accidentally cut himself on what he slammed down, but he rolled with it, smearing on the poor black actress's face, who later stated that it was disgusting (did she win an Oscar? I think she should have, because she rolled with it, too). But Leo never got an Oscar. And I'm not about to think any less of him because of it, because it's the Oscars. They always leave someone out, or don't give the award to someone we think should have gotten it. Quentin Tarantino isn't even a nominee this year! What's up with that!?
But this isn't what gets me mad. You can bitch all you want about a subjective ceremony not having enough (non existent) black actors. I'll get annoyed, but not mad. What has me mad here, is that Mr. Lee has the audacity to compare his stance to that of Martin Luther King jr.'s. A snippet of his Instagram post goes as such:
It's No Coincidence I'm Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday. Dr. King Said "There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It's Right".
F*cking really!? This guy's bitching about a subjective awards ceremony warrants a comparison to MLK's involvement in bringing to light things that matter? How about this, Mr. Lee: GIT GUD, BLACK PEOPLE! how about that!? Is that racist to say? More so than the BET awards, dedicated to black people? Will Spike Lee be boycotting that ceremony, too? The Oscars try to recognize only the best. As I have said before, I don't watch too many movies in theaters, but I haven't seen many spectacular black actors this year. Am I missing someone? The only person I have heard good things about is the guy from Creed.
A message to Spike Lee: Screw off. I wouldn't care about your existence if you hadn't gone and compared the Oscars to problems MLK tackled. Using his birthday to promote your asinine cause, too. MLK was busy being a badass and helping our nation. You are whining about a subjective ceremony. Big difference.
Don't take the Oscars seriously, boys. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes not. It doesn't change the quality of any director, animator, or actor's work. Here's hoping Leo gets one, though (Studio Ghibli is nominated, too. But Pixar's "Inside Out" will win, if only because it's Pixar. This is an example of why the Oscars shouldn't be taken seriously).
Stay edgy and have a nice time.
