Boycotting the Oscars would be like Dr. King and his followers boycotting the annual Montgomery, Alabama City Hall Christmas party. Dr. King, Rosa Parks and thousands of unsung heroes sacrificed. They stopped riding Montgomery buses, walked miles and braved the kkk; thereby causing the city of Montgomery to lose so much money that they forced the end of blacks having to sit on the back of the bus and give up their seat to a white person. If blacks and other people of color are unhappy about the all white nominees 2 years in a row for best actor and actress, then boycott the movies.
According to MPAA- Theatrical Market 2013 statistics, nonwhites made up 37% of all movie goers in the US/Canada market. 2013 ticket sales totaled 10.9 billion US dollars. That means nonwhites in US/Canada spent 4.033 billion US dollars at movie theaters in 2013 alone.
Rich actors like Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Tyrese, 50 cents, can afford to call for a boycott of the Oscars, but what about others who are living from gig to gig, paycheck to paycheck? Can they risk being blacklisted? (No pun intended.)
Oscar winner George Clooney pointed out in an interview with Variety:
“If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated. I would also make the argument, I don’t think it’s a problem of who you’re picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films?”
Indeed, there are few options available to nonwhites in quality films. And we’re not just talking about acting. All of those credits scrolling down the screen at the end of movies are jobs. How many people of color get the opportunity to score music for films? Set designers? Wardrobe? Makeup? etc…
Nonwhite actors who were not nominated were paid large sums of money. How many of them are threatening to boycott unless more nonwhites are hired to work in films? None. They’re upset because the Academy only nominated whites. I can’t put energy into that, because it’s only entertainment, not life or death. I’m an artist, so I understand the desire to be acknowledged for your art, but my happiness and self worth are not dependent on receiving an award or acknowledgment. Creating my music and sharing it with people all over the world makes me happy. Reading a message from a bedridden fan who told me he listens to my song “Smile” everyday makes me happy. That’s worth more than all the golden statutes ever made.
One love,
Aria