Man, Chris Rock will never stop playing the race card. I like to think that the lack of black nominees was because there was a lack of great performances by black actors this year.
What do I know though...
I find it fascinating to consider what the true source of the problem is and it appears to me that hollywood isn't a true meritocracy because the barriers to entry are many and difficult to overcome. That certainly isn't an issue with pro sports and the music industry anymore and we see all cultures thrive in those arenas as a result.
I don't believe there is a concerted effort by the powers that be to keep african americans out of hollywood rather I think its a reflection of the fact that our cultures are still divided and we aren't integrated nearly enough because if we were, stories being a reflection of society, would mirror that on screen.
Take movies about WW2 for example, its hard to cast a lot of african americans in these roles because society at that time was even more divided and african americans were largely kept from participating in the action that has been typically depicted on screen. How do you force people of color into a role in these movies and still strive to present an authentic story?
I think the solution is more stories that appeal to a wide audience that involve people of all races and then you'll see more african americans get nominated for awards but as long as movies are being made about predominately white (actually a pinkish hue) culture, then it stands to reason there won't be enough roles for african american actors to perform.
Seems to me there is an opportunity for creative people to take advantage of this gap in the market (much like Switzer took advantage of market and recruited the black athlete when not many were) and bring stories about african american culture & history to the big screen that appeal to people everywhere.
Black history is rich and fertile with topics that would appeal to all people. I would think the possibilities are endless for a myriad of storylines that would cast great african american actors in roles that would ultimately find them legitimately eligible for an oscar.
More stories reflecting african american culture = more black actors in these roles = more oscars for those actors.
Clearly, skin pigment doesn't determine talent.
