#OscarsSoWhite trends on Twitter – awards snub black actors, directors

(The problem’s on a higher level: More movies with diverse casts, and diverse stories, need to get made – and watched.) Elba, in “Beasts of No Nation”, seemed to have a good shot (and received a SAG nomination, for supporting), but the votes weren’t there. If last year’s minority-free acting nominations led to the protest hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, this year’s all-white lineup is sure to trigger a fresh expression of outrage.

With Idris Elba, Will Smith and Michael B Jordan failing to get any recognition in the coveted acting categories at the 88th Oscars, the Academy is again facing controversy for ignoring black talent.

The 2016 Academy Awards will mark the second year in a row in which every nominee in all four acting categories-20 slots total-are all white.

The Academy could have had 10 best picture nominees, but decided otherwise. Some 6,000 members of the Academy, all of them who work in the film industry, voted for the films, actors and directors that will be vying for an Oscar on February 28. As the days approached this year’s nomination announcement, there were many who speculated there could be a rebirth of the popular social media activist movement, which could potentially be another embarrassment for Hollywood.

However, she added, “You are never going to know what is going to appear on the sheet of paper until you see it”, and acknowledged that the efforts at more diversity for the Academy are moving too slowly.

In the best picture category, no films featuring black actors were nominated despite the buzz for “Straight out of Compton”.

“We would like to acknowledge and congratulate the filmmakers behind Straight Outta Compton and What Happened, Miss Simone who picked up nods in Best Original Screenplay and Featured Documentary, respectively”.

Though Steve Carell was widely considered a strong contender for his part in the ensemble of The Big Short, his performance ended up getting overlooked at the Oscars this year. Director Todd Haynes and his film should both have been nominated.

The F. Gary Gray-directed film has racked up this award season, earning a Critics Choice Award, NAACP Image Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Dunn sees the issue beyond just nominations in an individual year because they don’t necessarily signify systemic change.

In accepting her Emmy award, the first time a black woman had won Best Actress in a Drama, David gave a rousing speech condemning the history of limited roles for black women and said bluntly “You simply can not win an Emmy for roles that aren’t there”.