It seems like President Obama has now weighed in on the #OscarsSoWhite discussion that’s taken over Hollywood and entertainment media. Obama being Obama and all, what he had to say was actually pretty gosh darn insightful and summed up the talking points pretty succinctly.
In an interview with KABC, President Obama first commented on the overall situation, saying that the movie industry definitely can do better in reflecting its audiences. He also said:
Well, look, I think that California is an example of the incredible diversity of this country. That’s its strength. I think that when everybody’s story is told, then that makes for better art, that makes for better entertainment. It makes everybody feel part of one American family.
He also takes it a step further and touches on the overarching question that looms over the entire discussion:
As a whole, the industry should do what every other industry should do, which is to look for talent and provide opportunity to everybody. I think the Oscar debate is really just an expression of this broader issue of are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot?
Leave it to President Obama to be incredibly diplomatic and yet insightful about this issue. It’s that question of “is everybody getting a fair shot” that really hits the nail on the head. As it stands right now, people just are not getting their fair shot at representing themselves or their stories on one of the biggest platforms in the world. Cutting people off from access to that–whether deliberately or not–is downright cruel.
You hear that, Academy? The President’s even got something to say about this. Your work’s cut out for you.
(via Jezebel)
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