Civil rights groups plan to protest the Academy Awards due to the lack of diversity.
After the critically acclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma was snubbed and following the news that very few minorities were nominated for an Academy Award, civil rights groups are calling for the boycott of the Oscars and protests outside of the award show.
According to Reuters the National Action Network, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable have all said they plan to stand together on Oscar Sunday to protest the lack of diversity in the Oscars.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars, does not disclose the demographic breakdown of its roughly 6,100 members, but has long been criticized for being predominately white and male.
A 2012 investigation by the Los Angeles Times found Academy members were 94 percent white and 77 percent male. Members, who are selected for their work and recommended by existing members, had a median age of 62, the study said.
This year’s nominations had no ethnic minority actors among the 20 nominees in all four acting categories, which spawned the trending Twitter hashtag “#OscarsSoWhite.”
It is interesting to point out that a study was published last week and found that 34% of people believe Hollywood has a problem with minorities. But, what do you think? Should people protest the Oscars? Will you be watching the Oscars tonight? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
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h/t: Jezebel
