The Obama Diary

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Scott Mendelson: Why Ava DuVernay’s ‘Selma’ Oscar Snub Matters

The Oscar nominations were announced this morning. There will be plenty of analysis regarding good surprises and bad surprises, and I may dip my toes in later today. But the most egregious omission is the sadly not-entirely-surprising absence of Selma’s Ava DuVernay from the five contenders nominated for Best Director. To the extent that one can be “angry” about a certain filmmaker not being nominated for a major award that honors the best in filmmaking, I am angry. I am angry both because she deserved a nomination. I am angry because if the legacy of DuVernay’s Selma becomes shaped by its Oscar-season controversy, I fear that it will affect the artistic opportunities afforded to its African-American female director in a manner different than if Selma would have come under fire under the directorial lens of a white male filmmaker.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was born January 15, 1929—here after arrest, Montgomery Bus Boycott (1956): http://t.co/19SVx0eFDO

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Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) January 15, 2025

"It may well be that the Negro is God's instrument to save the soul of America." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #RememberMLK

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MyFeminismRealAF (@FeministaJones) January 15, 2025

To support/see @AVAETC work: Selma is in theaters, Middle of Nowhere is on DVD/iTunes, I Will Follow is on Netflix #fyi

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Whitney (@arieswym) January 15, 2025

Ms. DuVernay directed one of the very best films of the year and has been lauded and celebrated accordingly for the last two months and yet she was shoved aside for at least a few contenders who were nowhere near as celebrated. There is a real chance that this terrific and towering achievement that highlights the profoundly heroic and blood-stained work of those who worked with and for Martin Luther King Jr. during the “Civil Rights Era” will be forever defined by the notion that it wasn’t nice enough to a powerful white guy in a supporting role.

More here

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Oscar nominations exposed Academy's lack of diversity variety.com/2015/film/news… http://t.co/70tnrtGVcE

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  (@Variety) January 15, 2025

#OscarsSoWhite hashtag criticizes the Academy for lack of diversity among nominees: on.wsj.com/151s4u9 #Oscarnoms http://t.co/tZJJIofLfi

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Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 15, 2025

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#Selma should be seen by ALL. It is American history, human history. Take all your kids and show them YOUR history.

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L. Joy Williams (@ljoywilliams) January 15, 2025

Maybe Selma didn't get more #OscarNoms because the film doesn't depict white people as saviors. Hollywood LOVES white saviors.

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Baratunde (@baratunde) January 15, 2025

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#OscarsSoWhite we'll see a lot of "Je Suis Charlie" buttons on the red carpet, but no #BlackLivesMatter

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April (@ReignOfApril) January 15, 2025

#OscarsSoWhite they can count the number of people of color nominated in major categories every year on one hand. Oh wait. 😒

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April (@ReignOfApril) January 15, 2025

#OscarsSoWhite has owned Twitter this morning. Thanks, @ReignOfApril! cmplx.it/4SPJA http://t.co/RPDuHmYudK

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Complex Pop Culture (@ComplexPop) January 15, 2025

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Today go and see SELMA and you will understand why I am so proud to be a part of this film. #MarchOn http://t.co/jsldsSRV6q

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Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) January 14, 2025

If the Motion Picture Academy were a state, you probably wouldn't live there. theatlantic.com/entertainment/… http://t.co/Ssp3st2zYp

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Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 15, 2025

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#SELMA was not a perfect film. But the fact that it faced so much backlash b/c white folks were butthurt that they weren't centered in it...

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Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) January 15, 2025

Racism exists for a reason, and it's not just because white people enjoy the view from front of the bus. The power is a security blanket.

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Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) January 15, 2025

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"White male filmmakers have the luxury of being mediocre….” forbes.com/sites/scottmen…

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L. Joy Williams (@ljoywilliams) January 15, 2025

LBJ nominated our greatest Supreme Court Justice, Marshall, but also burned uncountable children to death. It's an ugly world.

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rootless (@root_e) January 15, 2025

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Why Ava DuVernay's 'Selma' Oscar Snub Matters onforb.es/1zhyi5w

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BWD (@theonlyadult) January 15, 2025

The Oscars shut out black actors and directors on.thegrio.com/14DX2qT

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theGrio.com (@theGrio) January 15, 2025

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I don't demand #OscarNoms for PoC every cycle, regardless of work. But in the year of #Selma, #Belle & #BeyondTheLights? #GTFOHWTBS H'wood!

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  (@Only4RM) January 15, 2025

So, while we don't need "white validation", an Oscar nod/win helps Black ppl who work in the film industry in such tangible ways

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Cocky McSwagsalot (@MoreAndAgain) January 15, 2025

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Fifty Shades of White #OscarNoms

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The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) January 15, 2025

One of Oscar's biggest "Selma" oversights is, without a doubt, cinematographer Bradford Young. Rarely has our skin looked so good on film.

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Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 15, 2025

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'See the Oscar news, Barack? If @TheAcademy was in charge, you'd never have been nominated in '08' http://t.co/qofibLBh6A

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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) January 15, 2025

What, no Oscar nomination for Ava DuVernay? This is a joke, right? RIGHT? http://t.co/IYuBGsh8xC

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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) January 15, 2025

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#Oscarssowhite they can't see a problem in this - The diversity gap in the Academy Awards #Oscars2015 #OscarNoms http://t.co/UOZLOM9Mnl"

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Media Diversified (@WritersofColour) January 15, 2025

Back in September, our @KyleBuchanan predicted this would be the whitest #Oscars in decades: vult.re/1Bw72jo http://t.co/AW3Q65TDH8

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Vulture (@vulture) January 15, 2025

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#OscarsSoWhite They didn't see Selma but their housekeeper said it was really good.

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Fed-Up Birthday Girl (@thewayoftheid) January 15, 2025

#OscarsSoWhite they don't see race. Or movies with black folks in it, apparently.

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rell (@Awkward_Duck) January 15, 2025

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There are films that win awards, and there are films that leave an indelible mark on our culture. Sometimes they're the same. Sometimes not.

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Mychal Denzel Smith (@mychalsmith) January 15, 2025

Last year, there was celebration after celebration of Do The Right Thing's 25th anniversary. Remember what beat it at the Oscars?

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Mychal Denzel Smith (@mychalsmith) January 15, 2025

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Fully expect American Sniper to take it this year. Not b/c it's the best, but b/c white bros want their white-washed white hero narratives.

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Januandrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) January 15, 2025

Amazing how only white people can act well.

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Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) January 15, 2025

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#OscarsSoWhite they don’t see the power of black leaders only thugs, victims, slaves or whores. Thanks Academy!

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DanielleMoodie-Mills (@DeeTwoCents) January 15, 2025

nominees for best picture: white man sniper white man actor white boyhood white man at hotel white man genius (x 2) white musician Selma

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kelsey mckinney (@mckinneykelsey) January 15, 2025

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Not a single non-white actor was nominated for an Academy Award this year.

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) January 15, 2025

Of course, awards aren't everything. CRASH won Best Picture & that film is hot garbage. But it's frustrating when merit isn't acknowledged.

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) January 15, 2025

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Honestly, who sees American Sniper then Belle and nominates Sniper?

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Dirk Lester (@Dirk2112) January 15, 2025

.@GoodGirlRoxy @Karnythia @ReignOfApril @poetichentai Gugu Mbatha-Raw had a breakout year. Could've earned nods for Belle/Beyond The Lights.

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  (@Only4RM) January 15, 2025

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I mean, fine, you don't think SELMA was among the best directed movies of the year? Cool. But Oyelowo gave a phenomenal performance.

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) January 15, 2025

I'm not sure SELMA was the best movie of the year. But as per @devincf, its Bloody Sunday scene alone should put @AVAETC in "best director."

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) January 15, 2025

With that scene, @AVAETC makes mass violence personal, terrifying, and strangely beautiful. It's fantastic filmmaking.

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) January 15, 2025

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"Selma" was nominated for Best Picture, but nothing in directing or acting categories. Oscar, you've done it again. vult.re/1wdu5ZF

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Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 15, 2025

Worth remembering that Oscar voters are 93% white, 76% male with average age of 63. (h/t @latimes)

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Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) January 15, 2025

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#OscarNoms No female directors, screenwriters, or cinematographers. No actors of color. #diversity

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David Daniel (@CNNLADavid) January 15, 2025

So ... the Academy includes not a single actor or actress of color in nominations, throws "Selma" in for 10-film Best Pic round. #Hollywood

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Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 15, 2025

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Thrilled at so much diversity in this morning's Oscar nominations. Really reflects the tapestry of talent in the creative community. #Not

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Nancy Giles (@nancygilesnyc) January 15, 2025

It was a big year for white actors in Hollywood. #OscarNoms http://t.co/ut1UK2aquz

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Nu Wexler (@wexler) January 15, 2025

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Oh, film industry. Watch out for women, people of color, and the queers. We're coming for you.

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Ashley Ford (@iSmashFizzle) January 15, 2025

And you know, @AVAETC just keeps releasing bangers. I don't think we've seen her best. She's making history.

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Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) January 15, 2025