This image released by Columbia Pictures shows Will Smith in a scene from, “Concussion.” After nominations for the 2016 Oscars were announced on Jan. 14, many expressed surprise that the lack of diversity persisted despite the huge backlash a year ago when all acting nominees were white. Despite being nominated for other awards, Smith failed to be recognized by the Academy for his role in the film. (Melinda Sue Gordon, Columbia Pictures via AP)
Re: “Race and the 2016 Oscar nominations ,” Jan. 19 letters to the editor.
Letter-writers disparaging the criticism of the all-white Academy Award nominations are missing the point. Nobody is demanding a system of extra points for actors of color to meet some percentage threshold. The problem is that so many such actors have received reviews as good or better than those received by many nominated white actors. This year Idris Elba, Samuel L. Jackson and Will Smith immediately come to mind.
It seems that African-Americans only receive nominations in connection with films about African-American celebrities, historic figures or films about slavery, civil rights or other specifically black themes. In any other kind of film, they are routinely ignored in favor of white actors, directors and writers. Itap a not-so-subtle form of segregation, blacks getting tossed the occasional nomination only for an important black experience film, and it needs to end.
Felice Sage, Littleton
This letter was published in the Jan. 22 edition.
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