Jada Pinkett Smith Delivers Powerful Message + Boycotting The 2016 Oscars

Jada Pinkett Smith

With the recent announcements of the nominations for the upcoming Oscars, there was an immediate spotlight put on the nominees. No person of color has been nominated for the second year in a row. You may say Straight Outta Compton and Creed have nominations, but they aren’t for the people of color. Straight Outta Compton is up for the best original screenplay, which was written by two caucasians. Creed, showed just how great Micheal B. Jordan can act and how great of a director Ryan Coogler is, but the only nomination for the film is going to Sylvester Stallone.

We must stand in our power!

We must stand in our power.

Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Monday, January 18, 2016

Jada Pinkett — dominate actress — has taken it upon herself to remind everyone of color just how powerful they are. Jada has taken to her Facebook page to tell everyone its time for a change. Its time we bring back and make our own Award shows, accept, appreciate and support our own. Hip Hop and R&B both face this problem at the Grammy’s, so it is time we build our own.

Spike Lee is joining Jada on the Boycott and bringing light to the matter as well. Spike took to his Instagram and gave a full statement to his followers about the lack of diversity amongst nominees. Spike is also challenging studio heads to speak about the matter and essentially asking, why are there less opportunities for people of color? Check the statement below and if you feel the same way Jada, Spike and the rest of those who noticed do, boycott the Oscars.

#OscarsSoWhite… Again. I Would Like To Thank President Cheryl Boone Isaacs And The Board Of Governors Of The Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences For Awarding Me an Honorary Oscar This Past November. I Am Most Appreciative. However My Wife, Mrs. Tonya Lewis Lee And I Will Not Be Attending The Oscar Ceremony This Coming February. We Cannot Support It And Mean No Disrespect To My Friends, Host Chris Rock and Producer Reggie Hudlin, President Isaacs And The Academy. But, How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White? And Let’s Not Even Get Into The Other Branches. 40 White Actors In 2 Years And No Flava At All. We Can’t Act?! WTF!! It’s No Coincidence I’m Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday. Dr. King Said “There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It’s Right”. For Too Many Years When The Oscars Nominations Are Revealed, My Office Phone Rings Off The Hook With The Media Asking Me My Opinion About The Lack Of African-Americans And This Year Was No Different. For Once, (Maybe) I Would Like The Media To Ask All The White Nominees And Studio Heads How They Feel About Another All White Ballot. If Someone Has Addressed This And I Missed It Then I Stand Mistaken. As I See It, The Academy Awards Is Not Where The “Real” Battle Is. It’s In The Executive Office Of The Hollywood Studios And TV And Cable Networks. This Is Where The Gate Keepers Decide What Gets Made And What Gets Jettisoned To “Turnaround” Or Scrap Heap. This Is What’s Important. The Gate Keepers. Those With “The Green Light” Vote. As The Great Actor Leslie Odom Jr. Sings And Dances In The Game Changing Broadway Musical HAMILTON, “I WANNA BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS”. People, The Truth Is We Ain’t In Those Rooms And Until Minorities Are, The Oscar Nominees Will Remain Lilly White. (Cont’d)

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on

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