Yesterday, to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, Jada Pinkett Smith took to Facebook to urge black actors to boycott the Oscars. Her reason? According to her, the annual awards ceremony rarely recognizes black actors for their achievements. She wrote, “At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment, Jada.”
See her video below:
We must stand in our power.
Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Monday, January 18, 2016
While some have chalked up Jada’s declaration to sour grapes (Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s former Aunt Viv, Janet Huber, went on a tirade against the actress), Jada’s words undoubtedly resonates across several artistic industries. Every award show has been lambasted for lack of diversity or acknowledgement of the contributions of people of color. In Fashion, it’s become commonplace for people of African descent to be excluded, not on the list, kept out, and overlooked.
Jada’s video simply urges black people to recognize our power and influence over popular culture, and harness it to make a statement. Dr. King did so with the struggle for Civil Rights. Where is our solidarity today?
While I don’t plan to boycott Fashion Week, I have indeed taken a lot of my focus away from it. While I used to yearn to get that mark of acceptance from certain PR firms to go to the hottest shows, I stopped asking after awhile, and now only go to shows where they value my contributions. This season, instead of breaking my neck to go to Milan, I’m going to Essence Women in Hollywood as a Colgate Optic White Ambassador #ow. I’ve realized that it’s more important for me to go where I’m celebrated, not just tolerated.
At any rate, what do you think of Jada’s video? And how can we effect change in our industry?
See Janet Huberts response to Jada’s video today: