I guess Michelle Obama’s surprise appearance announcing Best Picture should have been diversity enough for the Oscars. But would it be asking too much to see a bit more color in the winner’s circle?
Quvenzhane’ Wallis was cute, pumping up her arms and mugging for the cameras. But the child actor from “Beasts of the Southern Wild”—the youngest nominee ever—was not going to overtake the Oscar buzz for either Jessica Chastain of “Zero Dark Thirty” or Jennifer Lawrence for “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Same when Denzel Washington’s image flashed on the screen as he was announced as a nominee for Best Actor in “Flight.” Meryl Streep didn’t even feign suspense opening up the envelope to announce the winner. It wasn’t Washington.
Wallis and Washington were token mentions on Oscar night. I didn’t expect either of them to take home a statue.
Just look at who votes for the Oscars: According to a Los Angeles Times report last year, the Academy is 94 percent White, 74 percent male, and 68 percent of them have never won.
That’s some voting pool. You not only have the great potential of both racism and sexism, but you can also expect a little sadistic schadenfreude tossed in.
Given all that, Quvenzhane’ never had a chance.
