There are no Black nominees for the Oscars this year and some celebrities are not happy.  Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Spike Lee were notable Black stars who said that they would be boycotting the awards.  They also called upon others to do the same.

This begs the question:  Are they out of touch with the real problems of the world?  Particularly within the Black community?

While many average Black Americans face issues like mass incarceration, undereducation of children, and poverty, does it seem a bit trivial to “take a stand” in regard to the Academy Awards?  

When we think about educational issues, overflowing prisons and unemployment rates, is the inequality within the Awards a huge deal?  Of course, all racism is racism and all discrimination is discrimination.  But…

In this video, Janis Hubert (who co-starred with Will Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) calls out the Smiths as needing to “get over themselves” and recalls the time that Will refused to help his co-stars get a raise. She’s not happy.

So, have the millions and millions of dollars, the huge success and the glaring limelight blinded these African Americans to what really matters within their community?

Are Will and Spike just mad because they didn’t get nominated?  Have the Smiths‘ heads swollen so much that they, as Miss Hubert pointed out, think that they are Michelle and Barack Obama?

What do you think?  Is this a worthy cause or a waste of time?

 

 

 

Source: CNN.com