Illustration by Savannah Donald/Staff Illustrator
Kameryn Thigpen
Opinion Columnist
Throughout its history, Hollywood has not always been accepting of Black culture.
Maybe it is something that they cannot relate to understanding why it is significant, but that is what makes it the more special.
In the 91 year history, there have only been 39 winners out of 184 nominations have been given to Black actors, actresses and directors.
I do not know what the specific reason for the lack of acknowledgment of Black films, but the lack of representation is very prevalent.
The great thing about this year’s nominees is the number of nominations that belong to films that celebrate Black culture.
One of these films, in particular, include the film “Black Panther” which had six Oscar nominations, of which it won three.
Now, this is a big deal. People do not understand the significance of “Black Panther.”
There are simply not many Black films that are recognized and celebrated by the film academy.
This notion was brought up in pop culture with the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite last year that celebrities such as Spike Lee hopped on.
But it not just the nominations of “Black Panther” that make it so important. It is the film and the cultural impact if the film.
“Black Panther” was not just a film about a superhero, it was a cultural milestone that swept the entire nation.
If I could break this down in a cultural context, the film had an all blacksupercast, a Black superhero, had a location in a prominent fictional place in Africa and had several Black references throughout the film.
The film also gave us the reaffirmations of the connection of Black people in America and in Africa, which is something that is a reality in our times.
So for something like this to even be recognized by the academy, is a big deal. Recognition allows for something that is so near and dear to Black culture to be celebrated among all of the other films of the year.
It is saying that the things that are in prevalent in Black culture can be as successful and become the center of Hollywood
