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Quotes from Smith, Elba and others about the Oscars

(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

The second straight year of all-white acting nominees has turned this year’s Academy Awards into a referendum on diversity in the movie industry and sparked protests around Hollywood’s biggest annual celebration.

Several of Hollywood’s most prominent African-Americans, including Will Smith and Spike Lee, have said they won’t attend this year’s Oscars, which is to be hosted by Chris Rock. Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs has vowed drastic changes to diversify the academy’s largely white membership.

The backlash has prompted further examination throughout Hollywood about the diversity of its movies and the fairness of the awards it bestows on its best performances and films. Here are highlights of what has been said:

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“Diversity is the American superpower. That’s why we’re great.” _ Will Smith, who said he would not attend the Oscars.

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“It goes further than the Academy Awards. It has to go back to the gatekeepers. The people who have the green-light vote. … We’re not in the room. The executives, when they have these green-light meetings quarterly where they look at the scripts, they look who’s in it and they decide what we’re making and what we’re not making.” _ Spike Lee, this year’s honorary Oscar recipient, who said he would go to a Knicks game instead of the Academy Awards.

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“Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power. And we are a dignified people and we are powerful.” _ Jada Pinkett Smith, who said she would not attend or watch the Oscars.

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“Diversity in the modern world is more than just skin colour. It’s gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, social background and _ most important of all, as far as I’m concerned _ diversity of thought. Because if you have genuine diversity of thought among people making TV and film, then you won’t accidentally shut out any of the groups I just mentioned.” _ Idris Elba, speaking before Parliament in London.

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“I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this year’s nominees. While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes.” _ Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

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“There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, we’re talking about African-Americans. For Hispanics, it’s even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.” _ George Clooney.

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“I am disappointed by the lack of inclusion in this year’s Academy Awards nominations. It has me thinking about unconscious prejudice and what merits prestige in our culture. The Awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today. I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them.” _ Lupita Nyong’o.

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“This institution doesn’t reflect its president and it doesn’t reflect this room. I am an academy member and it doesn’t reflect me and it doesn’t reflect this nation.” _ David Oyelowo, at an event honouring academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

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“Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains: the higher up you get, the whiter it gets. And this year’s Academy Awards will be yet another Rocky Mountain Oscars.” _ The Rev. Al Sharpton.

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“We must do a better job of cultivating and recognizing diversity. The film community is better served when a wider array of voices is celebrated.” _ Chris Dodd, Motion Picture Association of America chairman.

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“Be patient. Of course it will come. It took me years to get an Oscar, years.” _ Michael Caine.

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“Maybe the black actors didn’t deserve to be in the final stretch.” _ Charlotte Rampling, referring to this year’s acting nominees.

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