Diversity Milestones & Missed Opportunities in Hollywood: A Reflection on Oscars Diversity

America Ferrera, Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

Lily Gladstone, Lev Radin/Shutterstock.com

Celine Song, Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com

The past few weeks at Girlcrew have been a rollercoaster of emotions. We've been elated over Steffie’s documentary premiere at Sundance, yet we've also been puzzled by the Oscars' perplexing choices.

The Wins: A Step Forward

Before discussing the frustrations, we must not let them overshadow significant historical milestones. Lily Gladstone's nomination marks a significant milestone for queer Indigenous representation, as she is the first Indigenous person to receive such recognition. Similarly, Celine Song's nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category represents a triumph for Asian women, being the first Asian woman to receive a nomination in this category. America Ferrera's nomination is another win, adding to the too-short list of Latina actresses recognized by the Academy (Only Rita Moreno and Lupita Nyong'o have won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar out of eight nominees. No Latinas have won Best Actress at the Oscars, with five nominations throughout history). And let's not forget the Best Supporting Actress nominations of Da'Vine Joy Randolph and the potential EGOT for Danielle Brooks! While this category has historically been the most diverse, only 29 Black women have been nominated for this award. This began with Hattie McDaniel, who also achieved the first of the 9 wins.

The Frustrations: A System Still Rigged

But with these victories come stark reminders of the distance yet to be covered.

In the event that you have been on social media the cleanse the past week, let’s catch you up. Despite the fact that Barbie was a monumentally successful film on so many levels, Greta Gerwig & Margot Robbie were not nominated in their respective categories. Ryan Gosling, however, received the Best Actor nomination for his performance as Ken (the irony of his nomination was not lost on Ryan, and he published a really wonderful statement that you can read in Time Magazine). This snub has angered many people and caused shockwaves on the internet.

The Barbie snub debate highlights a crucial issue: the historical oversight of women in directing roles by the Academy. In the 95-year history of the Oscars, only 8 women have been nominated for Best Director, exposing a significant gender disparity. However, this discussion often overlooks a deeper layer of bias: among these women, only 1, Chloé Zhao, is a woman of color. Zhao's nomination and subsequent win in 2021 signify a rare moment of recognition, emphasizing the dual obstacles faced by BIPOC women in the industry. While Greta's exclusion is important to address, it sidelines the intersectional challenges that further marginalize BIPOC women. For example, the discussion largely overlooks the fact that Celine Song and Greta Lee were not nominated in their respective categories. This selective attention perpetuates existing biases and fails to address the comprehensive range of discrimination that stifles diverse voices and perspectives in the industry.

These awards aren't just shiny statues. They're gateways to opportunities, funding, and fair pay* in an industry that's historically sidelined BIPOC stories.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com

Danielle Brooks, Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

Greta Lee, Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

Intersectionality in Our Anger

In our frustration over these snubs, it's vital that our response remains inclusive and intersectional**. The fact that 2024 still heralds 'firsts' in representation is a frustration in itself, but our collective voice should aim to amplify all underrepresented voices, not just the loudest in the room.

True inclusion isn't merely about quotas met or boxes ticked—it's about nurturing an ecosystem where diverse perspectives and experiences can thrive unencumbered.

Looking Ahead: Building a More Inclusive Future

We're not just here to critique; we're here to create change. We stand with Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Women in Film LA, Made in Her Image, Hue You Know, and (to name a few) that are on the frontlines crafting a future where every voice is heard and every story valued. As April Reign***, the creator of #OscarsSoWhite, has said, "Diversity is never enough. We always have to go further.” We're striving for parity and equity, wielding our collective strength to reshape the landscape.

We may not control the institutions, but we do control our narrative. And while discussing award snubs, like the recent Barbie discourse, is crucial, it's equally important to engage in these conversations with constructive criticism and a spirit of inclusivity. Let's choose collaboration over division and positivity over negativity as we pave the way for a Hollywood that truly reflects the tapestry of our experiences.

Footnotes:

* Intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another and overlap. "Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking." Kimberlé is an activist and pioneering scholar and writer on critical race theory, Black feminist legal theory, and the law.

**Watch Taraji P. Henson discuss pay inequity during her insightful conversation with journalist Jemele Hill here.

** For a full explanation by April Reign, check out The Root’s video here, and learn more about her work in Reggie Ugwu’s article “The Hashtag That Changed the Oscars: An Oral History”, in the New York Times

Further Reading:

Coaston, Jane. “The intersectionality wars: When Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term 30 years ago, it was a relatively obscure legal concept. Then it went viral.” Vox

McFarland, Melanie. "‘Never Forget the System Is Rigged’: Why America Ferrera's ‘Barbie’ Nomination Is the One We Needed." Salon

Leishman, Rachel. “The Best Actress Category Also Should Have Included Greta Lee.” The Mary Sue

Plank, Liz. "Barbie Didn’t Direct Itself." Liz Plank.Substack

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