The Oscars and the Bigger Issue by Levy Lee Simon
I truly believe the recent controversy over the Oscars
brings forth an issue that is greater
and much more disconcerting than most people are addressing. Yes, there is a
problem with the Oscars when people of color are completely ignored by the
prestigious Academy of Arts of which the overwhelming majority are white men
over sixty. There is even a larger problem
when Hollywood Studios refuse to recognize and produce works by people of
color. I know this first hand because as a Black screenwriter I live the
problem on a daily basis. But this is not about me personally per se. The problem goes beyond the academy, and is a
symptom of issues prevalent in the majority culture. I use majority as the
reality of the power structure in America and nothing more.
The great novelist, Ralph Ellison described it best in his
book, The Invisible Man, where he
explains the ideology of invisibility as it applies to Black people in America.
His premise is that white people don’t value our importance in the world and
due to that we become invisible, and that our lives, our stories, our history
our very existence doesn’t matter. In his iconic book Ralph Ellison wonders why
he feels out of place and through acute observation recognizes his own invisibility
within the larger society. Of course this is a monumental discovery because
every human being has a need to be seen and heard. Everyone wants to matter,
weather it’s in their own household, the community or the world at large. I
know most artist feel a need to be recognized. It comes with the territory.
Back to the Oscars, there are people who suggest that maybe
certain performances by Black actors were not worthy of nominations. That surely
is arguable and I’m not writing to suggest that every time a Black actor has a
lead in a film they should be nominated for an Oscar. That’s ridiculous. Art
for the most part art is interpretive. In many cases good work can be argued.
Great work usually stands out as great work. (My opinion.) Personally, I felt that Idris Elba and Abraham
Attah In Beast of No Nation, Jason
Mitchell, O’Shea Jackson, and Corey Hawkins in Straight Out of Compton gave Oscar worthy performances. The film Straight Out of Compton, also could
easily have been nominated for “Best Film,” along with F. Gary Gray for
directing. People can argue about my choices and that’s healthy and fine, but
that’s my take on it. I also find it odd that all the talk is about the actors
and not about a great film such as Straight
out of Compton, which for me is an instant classic, chronicling new
musically movement and an explosive time in our history.
Getting back to my point, with all the communicative power
and high visibility, that Hollywood possesses, what does it suggest when the
work of Black artist is denied and ignored? The denial of our work in Hollywood
trickles down to the rest of the society with an attitude on non-importance. Questions
arise; Is it being said that we area not equal? Or as Spike Lee ask, “We can’t
act?” Is the argument then that we are not important enough to the larger
society? Is it a dismissal of our very existence? These questions cannot be
over looked and they cannot be limited to Hollywood. We all know Hollywood has a
lot of power. Mostly everyone loves the movies and our lives and in many ways
shaped by what we see on TV and in films. Black people have stories to tell, in a way that only we
can tell them. Yet Hollywood consistently acts as if we only matter when we are
in a supplement to their world. Of course we know that’s not the reality in
2016.
So, when the Oscars nominations denies us, ignores us, then
how does that register symbolically to the police officer who feels that we
don’t matter anyway? As far fetched as it may sound it’s all connected if ever
so subliminal. I know there are a lot of
differing opinions on the subject and here’s mine, boycott, protest, speak out,
do what ever, say where ever but we cannot afford to be silent, we cannot
afford to remain invisible.
In doing research for a project that take place in Los
Angeles of the 30s and 40s the so called golden years, the same conversations
were being held by Black artist, almost verbatim. I do believe today the world
is trying hard to move in a direction that is evolving progressively away from the old ways, but the
old ways are not going down without a fight. This is not a petty issue about
Hollywood types. This issue is about all of us, where we are and where we are
going. Now is the time to speak up. We
may not agree but the discussion needs to happen so changes can happen. It’s
time and long overdue.
Levy Lee Simon
