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Black and non-white actors got some recognition at the 2014 Oscars, which saw Lupita Nyong’o win Best Actress and Steve McQueen win Best Director for 12 Years A Slave. So, what happened this year?
Black themed movie, Selma, the Martin Luther King biopic, got just two nominations at this year’s Oscars for Best Picture and Best Song, with British-Nigerian actor, David Oyelowo missing out on a nomination in the Best Actor category for his performance as the civil rights leader, while director Ava DuVernay was also snubbed in the Directing category.
But critics should have seen it coming when BAFTA snubbed the same movie early this month, after the movie was criticised for some factual inaccuracies.
although it got the most reviews last year.
When the nominations for Oscar awards 2015 came out, many black entertainers vowed to boycott it, even going ahead to create a hashtag, #OscarSowhite.
But in any case, the few blacks who attended the ceremony were glad to see Selma win an award for best original song for the movie through Common and John Legend.
Oprah Winfrey, Sean Combs (Diddy) and a host of others were elated
Diddy wrote on Instagram: “Goodluck to my brothers @Common, @JohnLegend, and the rest of the talent behind #SELMA at the Oscars tonight! thank you all for continuing to break bariers! This is HISTORY. We still have work to do!!! GLORY! ”