I covered the Academy Awards on the red carpet in person in 1986. It was the year of the Spielberg-directed version of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple,” a film with 11 nominations, Oprah and so many Black stars that it was practically “The Black Panther” of its day.
Many thought the 58th Oscars would be diversity’s breakthrough year. But it wasn’t to be.
All those nominations, and it was shutout. Zero wins.
I remember being at the Governor’s ball afterward and seeing Winfrey and other cast members looking flabbergasted.
Fast forward to 2018 and the 90th Oscars, and the evolution is finally taking hold across the board.
Begin with Guillermo del Toro’s fabulous tale that – in an effort to save an amphibious god tortured in a government lab – brings together a mute woman, her gay neighbor, an African-American co-worker and a foreigner who happens to be a doctor and spy.
Don’t despair. It’s really a fantasy date-night movie with multiple love scenes.
