Following the viral hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite created by @ReignofApril on Twitter, the push for increasing diverse representation in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) was addressed and met with controversy from all sides.
The Academy responded to the criticism by vowing to implement a new set of requirements to increase diversity and diminish the contempt that surrounds their secretive voting process. Newly invited voters were revealed Wednesday, with a record breaking 683 new members, including female representation capping at 46 percent, and people of color being represented at 41 percent.
The list features the who’s who of music, entertainment and film across the globe. Some of the names include Anthony Anderson, Idris Elba, Nia Long, Regina King, Ryan Coogler, Vivica A. Fox, Mary J. Blige, Tessa Thompson, Nate Parker and Gabrielle Union. While membership isn’t guaranteed, if all invited members do elect to join, it could drastically change the previously too male, too old and predominantly white demographic makeup of the voting committee.
Though the overall committee’s numbers reflect a 73 percent male and 89 percent white population is still worthy of a strong side eye, we can’t help but be proud of the fact that strides are being made to fulfill the Academy’s commitment to turning their representation around by 2020.
Kudos to April Reign for using the power of social media to leverage change in the digital age, the President of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs and CEO Dawn Hudson for acting urgently to fulfill diverse representation in the Academy.
I can’t take credit when Harry Belafonte, Viola Davis, Don Cheadle, etc. have said the same FOR DECADES. Social media helped. #OscarsSoWhite
— ☔️ April ☔️ (@ReignOfApril) June 30, 2016
To see the full list of 2016 voting class 2016 members, check out the Oscars website.
Congratulations to the newest voting class!
