By Edwin Freeman
Photos: Edwin Freeman
Hollywood took a major stride towards inclusivity at the 96th Academy Awards, with Black talent leaving an indelible mark across multiple categories. While Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” took home the coveted Best Picture prize, the evening belonged to the Black actors, filmmakers, and artists whose exceptional work was deservedly celebrated.
Jimmy Kimmel returned as host, keeping the star-studded proceedings lively and entertaining. Black excellence was front and center from start to finish, with prominent actors like Zendaya, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Mahershala Ali, and Lupita Nyong’o gracing the stage to present awards.
This year’s Oscars were particularly significant for its Black nominees and winners. Composer Kris Bowers made history as the first Black person to win Best Documentary Short for “The Last Repair Shop.” Cord Jefferson took home Best Adapted Screenplay for his powerful family drama “American Fiction.” And Da’Vine Joy Randolph provided one of the night’s biggest celebrations, winning Best Supporting Actress for her hilarious, nuanced performance in “The Holdovers.”
Other Black acting nominees included Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), and Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”) – highlighting the extraordinary depth of African American talent delivering tour-de-force roles in 2023.
While most of the other acting awards went to different performers this year, the impressive slate of Black nominees signals the beautiful diversity of African American stories resonating in Hollywood today.
A major highlight was Jefferson’s “American Fiction” earning a Best Picture nod alongside blockbusters like “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “The Holdovers.” Though it missed the top prize, its inclusion represents a willingness to embrace provocative narratives from Black creators.
While representing undeniable progress, this year’s strong Black presence at the Oscars should be viewed as an encouraging start rather than a finish line. Because the harsh reality is that according to USC’s latest study, only 6.1% of the 109 films released by major studios in 2021 had a Black director.
The data further reveals just how far we still have to go. In the 96-year history of the Academy Awards, only 24 Black artists had won Oscars in the prestigious Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Acting categories as of 2024 – a mere 7.3% of the 328 total winners in those top races.
So while these recent milestones are momentous, the real work continues in pushing for substantive reforms like increased funding, studio support, and ownership opportunities that empower Black creators to control their narratives in Hollywood.
The old adage reminds us – you can’t be what you can’t see. This year’s array of Black Oscar winners, nominees and presenters provided crucial representation and inspiration for the next generation. Now it’s up to the industry to capitalize on that momentum by ensuring visionary African American films become the norm rather than exceptions moving forward.
Because when we dismantle the longstanding barriers and open the doors widely for Black artists, there is no limit to the genius their singular visions and voices will bring to global audiences.
