LIFE TOPICS

Why The Academy’s New Class Is Just The Beginning Of Change

July 2, 2016 | Posted at 12:31 pm | by Anonymous /Unknown (Follow User)

Photo Credit: (Image courtesy of the Oscars)

It’s been an historic week for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. One that has excited many. The President of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, announced the Academy is inviting 683 movie industry professionals to become members.
 

“This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today,” Isaacs said in a statement. “We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.”
 


 

The Academy currently holds 6,200 people. The number of invitations given is more than double the number of those last year. The class is also much more diversity, with 41% of the new invitees are people of color while 46% are women.
 

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It’s this long-waited increase of diversity that has excited the public. Well-known names on the list include Marlon and Damon Wayans; Morris Chestnut; Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson; Idris Elba; Vivica A. Fox; Morris Chestnut; Michael B. Jordan; Nia Long; and Gabrielle Union. Twenty-four-year-old Star Wars newcomer John Boyega is the youngest to the list.
 


 


 

But this decision to not come without an intense effort. It came after an intense movement around the viral hashtag #OscarsSoWhite was started, a call for boycott by some of the most notable African-American actors, and of course, much dialogue around the issue. The Academy finally then decided and announced it would make an historic commitment to double the number of women and minority members in The Academy by 2020.
 

Yes, I think the steps that it is taking are great, but why didn’t it take them before? Additionally, is the amount of minorities and women enough to really show that they are putting a dent into the diversifying their membership? The fact is, minorities have been overlooked in acting categories, because there needs to be enough representation to really make a difference and to change what’s been happening.
 

Additionally, it bothers me that only improvement was only made after many began to continuously call out the issue. Granted, as an African-American, I know many time change has come from continuous effort of calling out the issue at hand. But you would think that the Academy would have noticed this issue in general, particularly being they are supposed to show the creative talent that exists in the industry and world among all ethnicities. It some ways it makes it feel like the decision by the Academy are simply an attempt or small step to appease as well as to make the image of the Academy look better by making these changes.
 


 

Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about this decision and what it could mean for the future. However, I am annoyed by actions to appease, instead of doing what should have been done all along. I know we have a journey to equality and fairness. And I know this is only going to happen if we don’t take baby steps, but move forward with urgency.