The Florida Civil Rights Association says “12 Years A Slave” shows off diversity and wins big Oscar night.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is heading in the right direction to close the diversity gap in the Academy Awards, said Florida Civil Rights Association President J. Willie David, III and co-producer of “The Breaking Point Movie,” an independent SAG film recently produced in Orlando and Altamonte Springs.
The film industry has a culturally diverse audience of black, Latino, Asian and Native Americans. It’s time for the Academy to end the lack of diversity and inclusion regarding women and people of color, stated David.
The Breaking Point Movie premiere will also showcase its diverse cast and crew at the AMC Universal Cineplex 20 at Universal’s CityWalk in Orlando, on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Film director James Hunter is black and paralyzed from the waist down directed a 77 member cast and crew from his wheelchair, added David.
12 Years a Slave won the best picture Oscar Sunday night, becoming the first film from a black director to win the film industry’s top honor in the 86 years of the Academy Awards, expressed David. Congratulation to film director and producer Steve McQueen for breaking down this barrier in the film industry, David said. McQueen’s best picture win will inspire black film directors around the world, David said. Also, black actress Lupita Nyong’o won best supporting actress for 12 Years a Slave is certainly another sign that the Academy is ready to take diversity seriously, stated David.
The Florida Civil Rights Association is pleased that the Academy selected Cheryl Boone Isaacs as the first black female president of the prestigious organization. Last night Oscar wins and presenters list by blacks demonstrate Isaacs is taking the right steps to address the diversity gap.
Studies by the LA Times and Lee & Low books highlights just how white and male the Academy Awards really are, said David.
According to research conducted by Lee & Low books, striking information highlights the diversity gap in the Academy Awards since it first formed in 1927. Since its inception, the academy has been dominated by white males. Overall, the academy consists of 6,000-plus nominated film industry veterans while active members cast votes to determine annual nominees and winners.
According to Lee & Low, that voting pool is 94 percent white. Of the remaining 6 percent, research shows that 2 percent of the academy is black, less than 2 percent is Latino and less than 1 percent is Asian and Native American.
Last night’s Oscars also marks the 75th anniversary of Hattie McDaniel taking home the Oscar for best supporting actress in Gone with the Wind becoming the first African-American in history to win an Academy Award. Only one person of color as ever been awarded the best actress title and that recognition went to Halle Berry in 2002 for her role in Monster’s Ball. For the best actor category, only 7 percent of the winners have been minority members including Sidney Poitier (1963), Ben Kingsley (1982), Denzel Washington (2001), Jamie Foxx (2004) and Forest Whitaker (2006).
The Breaking Point film director James Hunter says his race or disability will not prevent him for breaking barriers in the film industry. Oscar night film director Steve McQueen proved to me that anything is possible in America, concluded Hunter.
