To help fix the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences "diversity problem" to prevent another #OscarsSoWhite controversy, the Los Angeles Times has released a list of 100 people in Hollywood they could put into their ranks.
How very helpful of them.
Reading like a manifesto in which minorities of varying gender persuasions and sexual preferences whine incessantly about the perceived lack of diversity at this year's Oscars ceremony, the list includes people from all stations in the entertainment industry, from acting to special effects. Below are some of the most notable names included:
- Aziz Ansari
- Laverne Cox
- Idris Elba
- Sarah Silverman
- Tina Fey
Of course, as usual, the diversity being sought here has little to do with diversity of opinion or viewpoints, because just about everyone on the list most likely holds views somewhere between left-wing and far left-wing. Doubtful many Christians and conservatives made it on their list.
Some of the names listed came with special profiles that invited readers to feast upon the wonderfully "diverse" opinions of these heroic warriors for social justice, which read like diatribes plagiarized from the nearest Cal State gender studies professor.
"There have been plenty of rooms where I’ve been the only person of color and you feel it," said Netflix executive Lisa Nishimura. "And when you look at images of boardrooms, it’s almost always men. It’s great that we’re in a moment in time that we’re starting to talk about it."
Nishimura did not specify how she rose to such a prominent position at Netflix with so many boardrooms filled with evil, white men. Is she also willing to say those "men" didn't work their tails off to get to their positions? They certainly didn't get it handed to them by some diversity quota.
"I skipped [the Oscars] this year," said actress Alexandra Billings. "I skipped them purposely because I can no longer subscribe to a celebration that can't be representational in truth because it's not inclusive. Right now, it's exclusive and excludes people of color and gender identity of all kinds."
The most honest answer came from visual effects specialist Marcus Stokes, who blatantly said he didn't care much about #OscarsSoWhite, because he rightly cares only about producing quality work.
I’m just trying to be as exceptional as I can be. I’ve always been like, "You do the best work you can and eventually that opportunity will show up." So rather than getting mired in the pragmatics of these controversies, I just try to keep going out and doing good work: What can I shoot next and who can I get to be in it? It's less about the industry as a whole and more about: What can I do today?
According to the LA Times, the list was composed by conducting dozens of interviews with industry insiders of various ethnic backgrounds.
