Regina King accepting her Oscar (courtesy of Vanity Fair)
Four years ago, activist April Reign blasted through the status quo when she coined the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to criticize the lack of diversity among nominees. The impact of that initial tweet (#OscarsSoWhite they asked to touch my hair. 😒) still reverberates today.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that the Academy itself has “worked to diversify its membership” (which influences who and what is nominated) — “issuing invitations to more women, people of color and international filmmakers. The organization invited 322 new members in 2015, 683 in 2016, 774 in 2017 and 928 in 2018.” And Spike Lee (who is nominated for best picture, best director, and best adapted screenplay), thanked Reign for calling attention to the fact that “Hollywood discovers black people” every 10 years despite their ongoing work in entertainment.
This year in particular, a wide variety of people of color are getting their shine, being recognized for their contributions to music, costume work, acting, directing, and more. Here are the POCs that triumphed at the 91st Academy Awards in what will, hopefully, be a new era.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Documentary Feature
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Free Solo
Costume Design
Ruth E. Carter, Black Panther
Production Design
Hannah Beachler, Black Panther
Cinematography
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Foreign Language Film
Mexico, Roma
Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Animated Feature
Peter Ramsey, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Animated Short Film
Domee Shi, Bao
Documentary Short
Rayka Zehtabchi, Period. End of Sentence.
Adapted Screenplay
Kevin Wilmott, Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Directing
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma