So this one actually isn’t a huge surprise, but yet again this year’s crop of nominees is dominated by white people. Creed director Ryan Coogler, Creed star Michael B. Jordan, Creed supporting actress Tessa Thompson, anyone of color from Straight Outta Compton, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez or Mya Taylor from Tangerine, Idris Elba or Abraham Attah from Beasts of No Nation—any of these would stand in fine stature opposite this year’s crop of nominees, and yet there’s once again a lack of diversity in voters’ choices. Of course the Academy doesn’t vote as a whole—these are choices made by individuals, and ones that are reinforced by studio campaigns and Oscar prognosticators favoring “safe” picks rather than bold choices—but it’s a reflection of a systemic problem within Hollywood, especially in a year in which we’ve seen such tremendous output from filmmakers and performers of color. Disappointing, frustrating, disheartening.
