I have said it before and I will say it again, I don't know if the Oscars are racist. I'm just not knowledgeable enough about the film industry to make such an egregious claim. I'm sure there is a hint of subconscious prejudice considering the fact that the people responsible for nominating movies and their actors are pretentious, old white people. Tough to expect them to really embrace the idea of a predominantly "black" movie -like 'Straight Outta Compton' for instance- when they likely don't even understand what the fuck they are watching.
I digress. My point is that black people -that aren't nominated for awards- refusing to go to a show that they think is racist plays right into the notion that that show is racist. Say the Oscars selection committee does discriminate against people based on their skin color. Wouldn't they be pretty excited to look out over an entire crowd -that will be full regardless- of caucasian people? I hate to break it to people like Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, but if the Oscars are racist then their decision not to go isn't a boycott, it's a blessing. If they really wanted to make a point they should show up dressed like 'Black Panthers'. Maybe run up on stage Kanye style and proclaim that the Academy doesn't like black people. You can't consider something a boycott if it has no discernible effect on the product that's being boycotted. The Oscars aren't a less popular or profitable event if no black people show up. Leaving an entire amphitheatre of people to bask in their winter wonderland of whiteness just allows them to continue being blissfully ignorant to the absence of those of a different skin tone. African American actors can't claim white privilege when their pride -and in Will Smith's case, subjective jealousy- is giving the whites the privilege of celebrating amongst themselves.
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