Jada Pinkett Smith Calls For Action: “I Will Not Be At The Academy Awards & I Won’t Be Watching” [Video]

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

We must stand in our power!

We must stand in our power.

Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Monday, January 18, 2016
1.5k Views 10 Comments

Hollywood actress Jada Pinkett Smith has come forward to announce she will not be supporting the Academy Awards this year over its treatment toward the African American community.

In Pinkett’s perspective, the Academy Awards has overlooked people of color in Hollywood films.

“Hi, today is Martin Luther King’s birthday and I cannot help but ask the question, is it time that people of color recognize how much power influence we have amassed that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere. I ask the question, have we now come to a new time and place where we recognize that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledgement or respect of any group – I’m simply asking a question. Here’s what I believe. The Academy has the right to acknowledge whomever they choose, to invite whomever they choose and now I think it’s our responsibility now to make the change. Maybe it’s time we pull back our resources and put them back into our communities and into our programs and we make programs for ourselves that acknowledge us in ways we see fit that are just as good as the so-called ‘mainstream’ ones. I don’t know. Here’s what I’d do. Begging for acknowledgement and asking diminishes dignity and diminishes power and we are a dignified people and powerful. Let’s not forget it. So, let’s let the Academy do them, with all grace and love, and let’s do us differently. I got nothing but love. And [host] Chris [Rock], I will not be at the Academy Awards and I won’t be watching, but I can’t think of a better man to do the job at hand this year than you my friend. Good luck. And to the rest of you, nothing but love, always.” (Facebook)

We must stand in our power!

We must stand in our power.

Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Monday, January 18, 2016

Smith went on a mini-Twitter tirade this past weekend and expressed an interest in possibly falling back on attending the yearly Oscars.

Screen Shot 2016-01-17 at 9.15.12 AM

A few days ago, rapper/actor Ice Cube talked about his Straight Outta Compton box office smash not receiving a Best Picture nomination this week.

“I’m not pissed. I’m not surprised. It’s the Oscars, they do what they do,” Cube said. “The people loved the movie, the people supported the movie, it was No. 1 at the box office, over $200 million worldwide. I can’t be mad, you know.” (“Wendy Williams”)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overlooked the summer 2015 blockbuster when it announced its Best Picture nominees this week.

It’s amazing … not only did the movie get overlooked for best pic, only 8 movies were nominated and there could have been 10, but clearly they didn’t think the biopic passed muster. The Academy was under a microscope for this one … a lot of people thought this would clearly show if they were bias against black movies. (TMZ)

10 Comments

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

SOHH.com Writer. When I'm not covering hip-hop news and announcements, I'm deep into an Audible book and eating veggies.

10 Comments

  1. i agree with her, it’s full time now blacks in the movie biz start to stand up against the bullshit white academy awards.stop letting them dictate y’all worth in acting, making it seems like you dont worth nothing because you, isn’t on the level to be even nominated,i know that dude way back when won it, then hally berry and someone else i think.and that was way way back. they dont respect black actors,they should stop going to these wards even if they get a pity nomination,i notice how they always give blacks the part of a maid a cook are some other servitude situation, and nominate them for it even they ever gets nominated.they needs to stop kissing these peoples @ss and stop letting an award dictate there worth.

    • White folks could say the same thing about The BET awards. So you have no point whatsoever crybaby.

  2. i agree with her, it’s full time now blacks in the movie biz start to stand up against the bullshit white academy awards.stop letting them dictate y’all worth in acting, making it seems like you dont worth nothing because you, isn’t on the level to be even nominated,i know that dude way back when won it, then hally berry and someone else i think.and that was way way back. they dont respect black actors,they should stop going to these wards even if they get a pity nomination,i notice how they always give blacks the part of a maid a cook are some other servitude situation, and nominate them for it even they ever gets nominated.they needs to stop kissing these peoples @ss and stop letting an award dictate there worth.

    • White folks could say the same thing about The BET awards. So you have no point whatsoever crybaby.

  3. I mean Jada got good points and SOC done GREAT in Theaters but do We actually Expect White America to give Credit and have SOC playing in the Background at the Oscars?! Really come on y’all. “Remember the Titans” yes, “Gridiron Gang” maybe…but straight Outta Compton?! Baaaa that’s a No Brainer. Get over it.

  4. I mean Jada got good points and SOC done GREAT in Theaters but do We actually Expect White America to give Credit and have SOC playing in the Background at the Oscars?! Really come on y’all. “Remember the Titans” yes, “Gridiron Gang” maybe…but straight Outta Compton?! Baaaa that’s a No Brainer. Get over it.

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