Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, is leading a movement to boycott the Oscars awards ceremony this year, after expressing her disappointment at the lack of diversity among the list of nominees.
Jada took to Facebook on Monday to outline her disappointment at the announcement of the film industry members up for an award, intially posting the following message:
“At the Oscars...people of color are always welcomed to give out awards...even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together?
"People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment, J.”
And she followed up yesterday with a video delving into the issue further. After pointing out that on the day of filming (January 15th) it was Martin Luther King's birthday, she said:
"The academy has the right to acknowledge who ever they choose. To invite who ever they choose. And now I think that it’s our responsibility now to make the change.
"Maybe it is time that we pull back our resources and we put them back in our community, into our programmes, and we make programmes for ourselves that acknowledge us in ways that we see fit, that are just as good as the so-called “mainstream” ones.
"Begging for acknowledgment, or even asking, diminishes dignity, and diminishes power. And we are dignified people, and we are powerful. Let’s not forget it.
"Hey Chris [Rock] , I will not be at the academy awards and I will not be watching, but I cannot think of a better man to do the job in hand then you my friend, good luck.
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