After the 2015 Oscars, activist April Reign sent a tweet which began the #OscarsSoWhite movement, drawing attention to the shameful lack of diversity and inclusion among nominees and winners of Academy Awards. Four years later, progress has been made, but Reign believes we still have a long way to go.
Tickets secured. Might pass out. #AprilsOscarsWeekend https://t.co/WXWxs5CTsL— April (@April)1550952395.0
Reign attended the ceremony and posted about it on Twitter.
Almost there.... #AprilsOscarsWeekend https://t.co/pMva2O3ACy— April (@April)1551044301.0
Reign also gave interviews on the red carpet, commenting on the increased number of diverse nominees and further progress yet to be made.
The creator of #OscarsSoWhite, @ReignOfApril, reflects on 4 years since the birth of the hashtag. She hopes the new… https://t.co/N3zIQCMB5r— LAT Entertainment (@LAT Entertainment)1551049133.0
When people ask #OscarsSoWhite creator April Reign if #OscarsSoWhite is still an issue, "My answer is absolutely ye… https://t.co/kOLJLDbK4A— Variety (@Variety)1551049391.0
When this photo was taken in 2008, diversity at the #Oscars hardly ever came up. There were some glimmers of hope (… https://t.co/kTsGJhqqY3— Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner (@Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner)1551047198.0
Twitter user @RachelChang wrote about the difference #OscarsSoWhite has made over the last four years!
... However, the next year, #AsianAmerican kids were made the butt of an Oscars joke. While this has been the most… https://t.co/0pTguy4uXo— Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner (@Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner)1551047199.0
... I’m anxious and hopeful to see how the ceremony will reflect that. Last year, all but one of my live tweets wer… https://t.co/cgwRXtZ6PP— Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner (@Rachel Chang | Writer • Editor • Traveler • Runner)1551047200.0
Backing up Reign's point, other Twitter users drew attention to how the voting members of the Academy are still overwhelmingly white and male despite the increasingly diverse nominees.
Who are the #Oscars2019 voters? - 94% White - 77% Men - 2% Black - 2% Latin/o - Less than 0.5% Asian and Native A… https://t.co/AbHxnh2HvQ— Khaled Beydoun (@Khaled Beydoun)1551031492.0
It’s not just about the nominees, it’s about the voters too. #OscarsSoWhite #OscarsStillSoWhite https://t.co/OwRcevNFBm— ᴊᴇɴ ᴋᴡᴏᴋ (@ᴊᴇɴ ᴋᴡᴏᴋ)1551033251.0
Knowing she had an important point to make, Twitter loved Reign's comments.
.@ReignOfApril is at the Oscars slaying and saying all the things 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿 https://t.co/dGnXmOIDjT— Joy Reid (@Joy Reid)1551049969.0
Proud and happy for you too, @ReignOfApril. https://t.co/i42h6oh18J— For The Win (@For The Win)1551051578.0
@Variety Wonderful @ReignOfApril !!!!— Hannah Drake (@Hannah Drake)1551064827.0
@Variety Excellent response @ReignOfApril 💞— Jacobi (@Jacobi)1551112183.0
The #OscarsSoWhite movement is relatively recent, but has already established a notable history.
Important context for tonight's #Oscars from @ReignOfApril https://t.co/0ryYasA8Eq— MoveOn (@MoveOn)1551046491.0
Does #OscarsSoWhite seem like a distant memory? It really isn't, but its nice to see some amazing performances by p… https://t.co/THgm3J4h6m— Herbie Gill (@Herbie Gill)1551061695.0
Though there's more to be done to further diversify the Academy, at least the Oscars can be proud of this year's inclusive winners and nominees.
The #Oscars so far has had presenting or performing J-Hudson, Bryan Tyree Henry, Angela Bassett, J-Lo, Javier Barde… https://t.co/egVSqMkX3W— Atima Omara (@Atima Omara)1551061792.0
Seeing all this diversity and hearing these different languages at The Oscars tonight really does something to my h… https://t.co/9Lpzcu6cKP— Delondra Williams (@Delondra Williams)1551062143.0
All of these black and diverse firsts tonight. And all of these winners thanking their ancestors. The hopes and dre… https://t.co/d0LO80jNJA— They Call Me Yucca (@They Call Me Yucca)1551061950.0
Thanks to #OscarsSoWhite, our future is looking brighter every day!