"Black Hollywood"

This past weekend Los Angeles hosted the 84th Academy Awards. A night where movie stars dress in their best black tie attire and sit in the audience waiting to for their chance to add Oscar winner to their title. For the African American community it seems like the stars in the building and the people at home are looking for a moment of acceptance that just maybe more than one African American if any at all can take that gold statue home and know their hard work was recognized and appreciated.

In the 84 years of the academy awards there has been only fourteen African American Oscar winners to date. Until this past Sunday there was only 5 female African American winners. Octavia Spencer became 6 for her role as Minnie in “The Help”. Some say it’s a long way from "Mammy to Minnie" as I read that I thought really. Is that how far we’ve come? Mammy and Minnie may be ideas of two figures from African American culture, but they aren’t many roads apart. When you look at all the roles African American’s have been nominated for to date I see a lot more figures than a housemaid.

1940 First African American women Hattie McDaniel for her role Mammy in "Gone with the Wind"

2012 Winner Octavia Spencer for her role Minnie in "The Help"

 Many may read this and say here’s another mad black girl. Truth is, I am. I’m mad that Hollywood after 84 years still hasn’t recognized the talent Black America has. Not even a month ago George Lucas a white man took a walk in our shoes of what’s its like to even get support on a film of an all black cast for Red Tails. So it does make me mad to know that no matter how many doors Black America breaks down we are still not recognized as equal or even given some opportunities to be our best. Then when the moment to celebrate our achievement does come we are hit the reality there is so much further to go. I enjoy the opportunities we get in films but the truth is the opportunities are so few. I don’t intend to bash but the truth is what it is. 

I do want to congratulate Octavia on her win she deserves every moment of praise she gets and I wish her much more success!