Viral phenomenon #OscarsSoWhite may have been a major moment back at the 2015 Oscars, but the hashtag is still very much relevant in 2019, even in a year in which movies such as Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians, and Roma have sparked huge awards-season buzz. Activist April Reign, who first created the viral hashtag during the 2015 awards season, spoke out at the 2019 Academy Awards about the importance of continued diversity in the entertainment industry — and spoiler alert: There's still much to be done.
When asked by Variety about starting the hashtag, April commented that she's often asked if a lack of racial diversity is still an issue in Hollywood. Her answer? "Absolutely yes," she said while on the Oscars red carpet.
"Until we are no longer having these conversations about firsts in 2019," April explained, "until we see everyone having the opportunity, whether it's race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, indigenous people in this country, until we all have an opportunity to see ourselves represented on screen, not just during awards season but all year long, I'll still continue to talk about #OscarsSoWhite."
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Each year since creating the movement in 2015, April is seemingly asked about the progress being made in all facets of the entertainment industry — and if racism and sexism have somehow been solved in the years since. In 2017, she talked to Teen Vogue about just that, saying that diversity comes down to so much more than just what is celebrated at awards shows.
"The onus has to be on Hollywood studios to ensure that theatergoers have the opportunity to see themselves reflected on the screen," she said then. "The Oscars are the end of the road; we need to start at the beginning and ensure that studio heads are putting aside any implicit bias they have to broaden their frame of reference and provide more opportunities for filmmakers from marginalized communities."
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