Openly criticizing the absence of Black American Oscar nominees, producer and screenwriter Gary Hardwick of the movies "Deliver Us From Eva" and "Brothers" created a controversial meme by juxtaposing African nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupia Nyong'o, and Barkhad Abdi with the un-nominated African-American actors Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Octavia Spencer, and Michael B. Jordan. Below the pictured photo, Hardwick wrote in his caption:
“Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o and Barkhad Abdi are nominated this year for acting Oscars. They are all African. Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Octavia Spencer and Michel B. Jordan were not nominated. They are all American. I have never liked the term African American. I want to thank the Academy for finally separating the two words."
In 2014, do you think it is time for Africans of the diaspora to finally reject the urge to fight over Hollywood's crumbs and continue building bridges toward one another or do you believe that Hardwick has a point?
photo credit: madame noire
