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Director Chinonye Chukwu is speaking out against Hollywood after her film Till did not receive any Academy Award nominations in any category. In fact, many Black films, filmmakers and actors were snubbed, and no Black directors were nominated.
Till is a film based on the true story of the brutal 1955 lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till and his mother's pursuit of justice. The film's lead Danielle Deadwyler had generated a great deal of Oscar buzz for her performance as Mamie Till-Mobley, but neither she nor any other Black actors were on the lead acting shortlists.
Chukwu took to Instagram to address the Oscar snub and the industry in general for its "unabashed misogyny toward Black women."
She posted a picture alongside civil rights activist Myrlie-Evers Williams, who, like Till's mother, sought justice for over three decades for the 1963 murder of her husband. Williams is also featured in the film.
Chukwu captioned the post:
"We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women."
"And yet."
"I am forever in gratitude for the greatest lesson of my life - regardless of any challenges or obstacles, I will always have the power to cultivate my own joy, and it is this joy that will continue to be one of my greatest forms of resistance."
Many readers of Chukwu's post agreed with her poignant statement and applauded her for speaking truth.
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
Several also felt that Chukwu did deserve a nomination and commented on the power of her film.
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
@chinonyechukwu/Instagram
Like Deadwyler, Viola Davis was also widely considered to be a lock for a Best Actress nomination for her performance in The Woman King. But her name was also noticeably absent.
No women were nominated for Best Director.
Though the Academy made a vow to be more inclusive of women and people of color in the past, this feels like a step backward.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told the BBC that they are not giving a response at this time.