*As we reported earlier, “Black Panther” became the first superhero film ever nominated for an Academy Award for best picture. Meanwhile, Spike Lee received his first ever Oscar nomination for for best director nomination for his latest epic, “BlacKkKlansman.”
And with the good news, black activists are taking a victory lap due today’s record announcement of black talent and movies who were nominated for 2019 Oscars:
“It was 3 years ago that I organized a national coalition of civil rights organization’s and activists who demanded a change in the Oscar nominations voting procedures by then Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs.
‘BLACK PANTHER’: MARVEL BLOCKBUSTER EARNS SEVEN OSCAR NOMINATIONS INCLUDING BEST PICTURE
“Black talent from director Ava Duvernay to actors Will Smith and Idris Elba had previously been shut out with no Oscar nominations for their respective work. In fact the Academy had no black Oscar nominees for two consecutive years, which sparked a national backlash culminating in protests and a boycott of the Oscars. As the lead organizer of the protests, Boone Isaacs complied with our demands. She changed the voting procedures to include more racial diversity and women. Which without question has led to more blacks being nominated. So we salute the black talent of “Black Panther,” Spike Lee, actress Regina King and all the black Oscar nominees.
And we also salute all the black activists through protests and advocacy helped make this historic day possible” — Najee Ali director of Project Islamic Hope and lead organizer 2016 Oscars protest and boycott.
