OSCARS SET RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST DIVERSITY IN NOMINATIONS

The prospect of open movie theatres is in near sight and the Oscar’s were exactly what is needed to remind us of the magic of Cinema.

Sunday’s Academy Awards marked the 93rd Oscars. This year was different not just for the way Awards were held and recorded, but also because diversity and inclusion were not just words! 

Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color to win Best Director for “Nomadland”. The movie also won Best Picture. Daniel Kaluuya ("Judas and the Black Messiah") and Yuh-Jung Youn ("Minari") won the races for supporting actor. Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first Black women to win in makeup and hairstyling, for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom".

In his acceptance speech, Daniel Kaluuva thanked the man he played in the film, who was assassinated in 1969. “Thank you for your light. Thank you so much for showing me myself,” he said.

Another stand out quote came from, Mia Neal. Acknowledging the glass ceiling that she broke, Neal said, “"I can picture Black trans women standing up here, and Asian sisters and our Latina sisters and Indigenous women, and I know that one day it won't be unusual or ground-breaking, it will just be normal,”

Another noteworthy mention is British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed nominated for Best actor for his role in “Sound of Metal”. He is the first Muslim nominee ever in this category. His role challenges entrenched stereotypes and the roles offered to Muslim actors. 

While the Academy made conscious efforts to promote diversity this year, only 9 out of 20 nominees came from backgrounds of colour. Still a long shot away from accurate representation, however a new UCLA study (Hollywood’s Diversity Report titled Pandemic in Progress) named 2021 the most diverse year in Oscar history. With nominations like Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, this year’s Oscars did make a proud watch for people of colour across the globe. 

Congratulations to all the winners this year.

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