Oscars So White
Protest of lack of diversity in Oscar nominations.27 total reviews
Comment from NicciFaye
I wish I had a six for this superb writing of TRUTH! Thank you for sharing this wonderful and powerful words of force! I felt the same when I was watching it. Truly a sad thing that not even ONE person of color was nominated for anything. Idris Elba should've at least received something for beast of No Nation. Great poem. Great Poem!
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2016
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I wish I had a six for this superb writing of TRUTH! Thank you for sharing this wonderful and powerful words of force! I felt the same when I was watching it. Truly a sad thing that not even ONE person of color was nominated for anything. Idris Elba should've at least received something for beast of No Nation. Great poem. Great Poem!
Comment Written 09-Mar-2016
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2016
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Thank you my sister. I often use as a subject of reference the fact that the movie "Out of Africa" won over "The Color Purple" and has been all but forgotten while "The Color Purple" has been a major theatrical feature constantly and is still a major attraction. In addition many of the actors who starred in it have gone on to become major players in the movie and on TV. So many times the Academy has gotten it wrong and remain unapologetic over their neglectful attitudes.
Comment from Amy Greta
Good Morning!
First of all, I love all the emotion and tenacity in your poem; I truly understand the message and it's written straight from your heart.
I also noticed that a reviewer rated your poem with two stars due in part to it having hate in it.
I thought that was very unfair, as great poetry stems from feelings of ALL kinds, both negative and positive, and should not be judged on content or theme. I believe excellent poetry is impactful, and your piece surely is. It reaches out and resonates with people.
I happened to connect to your poem because I have had similar situations / feelings due to having a disability (bipolar) and the following really hit home with me:
"We got talent by the boatload"
"You may not think our efforts are worthy..."
And especially:
"It's a new day, there's a new way, and Y'all can't shut us out"
I was cheering for you and your message AND I was thinking that the same statements ring true with the MI (mental illness) population.
Your poem is VERY worthy of six stars, plus I wanted to do what I could to counteract that unfair rating you received.
Your poem is exceptional!
Amy
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2016
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Good Morning!
First of all, I love all the emotion and tenacity in your poem; I truly understand the message and it's written straight from your heart.
I also noticed that a reviewer rated your poem with two stars due in part to it having hate in it.
I thought that was very unfair, as great poetry stems from feelings of ALL kinds, both negative and positive, and should not be judged on content or theme. I believe excellent poetry is impactful, and your piece surely is. It reaches out and resonates with people.
I happened to connect to your poem because I have had similar situations / feelings due to having a disability (bipolar) and the following really hit home with me:
"We got talent by the boatload"
"You may not think our efforts are worthy..."
And especially:
"It's a new day, there's a new way, and Y'all can't shut us out"
I was cheering for you and your message AND I was thinking that the same statements ring true with the MI (mental illness) population.
Your poem is VERY worthy of six stars, plus I wanted to do what I could to counteract that unfair rating you received.
Your poem is exceptional!
Amy
Comment Written 12-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2016
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I am overwhelmed by your absolutely wonderful words of support. I must admit that I was totally and completely floord by the carefully couched condemnation put forward as an offer to help me make my poem better by removing the hate filled words and the poor language like "Y'all and ain't." This poor deluded person could not have seen that I have enough intelligence to see through her carefully chosen words to see what her message truly was. But that's okay, I'm good. I cannot thank you enough for you encouraging and inspiring words. I shall look for your postings from now on as you have won a fan for life.
Comment from anabellapongasi
This is a very good rant in poetic form. So the Oscar nominees are all white and no blacks? I don't follow the Oscars anymore since I don't watch movies and tv anymore. I can understand your disappointment. There seems to be bias...
Sentiments very well expressed in your rhyming couplets.
Blessings,
Anabella
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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This is a very good rant in poetic form. So the Oscar nominees are all white and no blacks? I don't follow the Oscars anymore since I don't watch movies and tv anymore. I can understand your disappointment. There seems to be bias...
Sentiments very well expressed in your rhyming couplets.
Blessings,
Anabella
Comment Written 11-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Thank you for your review comments. As I have stated to other reviewers. In recent years there has been some generous acknowledgement of black talent by the association. The complaint is mainly that for the last two years despite an increase in black talent and black output, there is no recognition at all, not one nomination, That hardly seems fair. The fear that has fueled the protest is that there may be some factions within the association who wish to go back to the time when the shutting out of black talent was common place.
Comment from dmt1967
I am not sure what you are trying to say. Are you mad at the film producers because of the money they spend when they could be spending it on better things than a movie? Or the rewards they get on top of the money? Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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I am not sure what you are trying to say. Are you mad at the film producers because of the money they spend when they could be spending it on better things than a movie? Or the rewards they get on top of the money? Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Thank you for your review comments. This poem is about the fact that here of late when African Americans are turning in performances that above previous performances and getting no official recognition from the Association. by way of having their performances nominated. It is troubling as we can all remember past years when we had the unforgettable experience of having bot best actor awards go to African Americans. The thing that worries us is since the last two years have failed to garner even one single mainstream nomination. We fear a return to a past where there were no nominations routinely.
Comment from scd41
The top most awards like Oscars and Nobel Prize are becoming more controversial and decisions are not accepted whole-heartedly. There is always a nagging doubt about the impartiality of decisions by the judges. Your poem has underscored realistically such feelings. I agree with you that prize winners are not necessarily the best and most deserving.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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The top most awards like Oscars and Nobel Prize are becoming more controversial and decisions are not accepted whole-heartedly. There is always a nagging doubt about the impartiality of decisions by the judges. Your poem has underscored realistically such feelings. I agree with you that prize winners are not necessarily the best and most deserving.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Thank you for your comments. While the Association is to be congratulated on some past performances whereby fair and impartial nominations and awards have taken place. It is very easy to slip back into narrow minded cases of recognition which then leads to an even narrower case of award placement. We simply cannot allow that to happen.
Comment from kathleenspalding
Haha too true (money pit movies). Honestly, when the Oscars and critics rave about a movie, I avoid it cause it's likely to be boring as all get out! Well done poem puts the situation eloquently into words.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Haha too true (money pit movies). Honestly, when the Oscars and critics rave about a movie, I avoid it cause it's likely to be boring as all get out! Well done poem puts the situation eloquently into words.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Thank you so much. I appreciate your comments. The Association is to be congratulated for the fairness the have shown in the recent past, but it appears they are heading in the wrong direction by going back to their narrow interpretation of nomination worthiness. This is what has stirred widespread protest.
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Sure would not be the first time that they have been criticized for narrow vision. But, I only pay as much attention to show biz as the news media forces me to, LOL. Have a good weekend.
Comment from happykat4
I applaud the poem and the content. There is no doubt of the talent of your race in every art form out there. I was brought up is a small community of all white people, but my family taught us to look to the person. We loved Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and I personally think (Rochester) Eddie Anderson was funnier than Jack Benny. My mother cleaned houses in her early years and we were never wealthy people. I am ignorant to many of the issues black people faced but sir I for one applaud you because you can and will effect change. I believe in treating people the way you would treat yourself. Great poem Thank you for sharing this with us. Kat
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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I applaud the poem and the content. There is no doubt of the talent of your race in every art form out there. I was brought up is a small community of all white people, but my family taught us to look to the person. We loved Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and I personally think (Rochester) Eddie Anderson was funnier than Jack Benny. My mother cleaned houses in her early years and we were never wealthy people. I am ignorant to many of the issues black people faced but sir I for one applaud you because you can and will effect change. I believe in treating people the way you would treat yourself. Great poem Thank you for sharing this with us. Kat
Comment Written 10-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2016
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Thank you HappyKat4. I appreciate your wonderful comments. Some have called the protests petty, childish and even suggest a case of sour grapes. Listen, the association has been very fair in the recent past awarding best actor awards to Denzel Washington and Hallie Berry in the same year, something that had never happened before. What we find alarming is that in the past two years there have not been on nomination in the face of an even deeper talent pool within our community. We are just afraid that there is an attempt to go back to the days when we were not acknowledged at all or at the very least almost not at all.
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I certainly hope and pray we move beyond narrow thinking and recognize each other for the unique talents God gave to all
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Thank you, I agree.
Comment from Jeffers63
thank you for this timely and topical piece of writing, I feel the pain and the shame that the years of ignorance can cause. I truly believe that anyone who speaks up needs to be heard. The voters also need to stand up and say hey what???? Money is powerful force and gives many rewards that clearly others deserve. Good luck in your plight...
Regards
Jeffers63
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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thank you for this timely and topical piece of writing, I feel the pain and the shame that the years of ignorance can cause. I truly believe that anyone who speaks up needs to be heard. The voters also need to stand up and say hey what???? Money is powerful force and gives many rewards that clearly others deserve. Good luck in your plight...
Regards
Jeffers63
Comment Written 10-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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Thank you for your empathy. Actually there have been quite a few black award winners in recent years. What has caused the uproar is that in the last two years there has not been one single nomination for African Americans and this could signal a return to the days when we never received any recognition. Question, how is it that the white script writers are recognized but the black actors and the black director are ignored. Was the script so well written that some random people off the streets could have acted in and directed the film and received similar results? I don't believe so.
Comment from AnnaLinda
nom1388,
You have a strong voice here and I enjoyed reading your well rhymed lines and convictions conveyed with passion. I am not a movie goer, nor did I watch the Oscars. That might be a community that it would really not matter so much to be honored by...but, I guess it's important to those who make the money and spend
their money to watch the "movies"
Nice job here,
Linda
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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nom1388,
You have a strong voice here and I enjoyed reading your well rhymed lines and convictions conveyed with passion. I am not a movie goer, nor did I watch the Oscars. That might be a community that it would really not matter so much to be honored by...but, I guess it's important to those who make the money and spend
their money to watch the "movies"
Nice job here,
Linda
Comment Written 10-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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Thank you for your comments. Actually there has been a lot more recognition in recent years. The thing that has to be guarded against is the tendency to slip back into the way things were in the past. No recognition in the last two years has some in the ethnic community wondering if things are regressing and that more than anything else has sparked the outcry.
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Yes...would be a tragedy...Good for you to speak out.
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Hello,
Nice poem about equal rights for all. This is about the Oscars and the injustice at keeping African Americans out. Good job with writing a well-written poem that is easy to read. Good job!
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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Hello,
Nice poem about equal rights for all. This is about the Oscars and the injustice at keeping African Americans out. Good job with writing a well-written poem that is easy to read. Good job!
Comment Written 10-Feb-2016
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2016
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Thank you. Actually there has been a lot more recognition in recent years. What has caused a reaction is that in the last two years there has been no recognition of African Americans and the fear is that we might be regressing back to the way things used to be, and that is unacceptable.
