quote: Chris Rock at the Oscars

[orangerful]

I didn't watch The Academy Awards this year. Actually, I haven't watched in awhile because I don't have a antenna on my TV so I don't get any network channels.

But I did Google Chris Rock's opening monologue this morning because I was curious about what he had to say. This is the quote that stood out for me:

Hey, if you want black nominees every year, you need to just have black categories. That’s what you need. You need to have black categories.

You already do it with men and women. Think about it: There’s no real reason for there to be a man and a woman category in acting.

C’mon. There’s no reason. It’s not track and field.

You don’t have to separate ‘em. You know, Robert De Niro’s never said, “I better slow this acting down, so Meryl Streep can catch up.”

No, not at all, man. If you want black people every year at the Oscars, just have black categories like Best Black Friend.

Comments

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

AGREED! I didn't like that part of the speech at all and it felt like, honestly, typical man missing out on the casual sexism that he was JUST ADDRESSING with the casual racism. HE JUST EXPLAINED casual racism earlier in his speech, this sort of "well, it's not really that hurtful, is it?" attitude. And then he undercuts himself by saying this.

So, yeah, he missed a huge opportunity. Rock used to be edgy, at least, I thought he did. But I feel like in these past few years, he has made statements like this that I can't quite figure out.

[c-hrista.livejournal.com]

Someone mentioned that they wished Kevin Hart had hosted instead and I kind of wish the same. Chris Rock seems to be playing it safe lately.

Kevin Hart gave a little speech before some performance, and it seemed way more meaningful and genuine than anything Rock had recited:

With that being said, I want to applaud all of the actors and actresses of color that didn't get nominated tonight. The reason why I say that is because I want them to understand that tonight should not determine the hard work and effort that you put into your craft.
[...]
At the end of the day we love what we do, we're breaking major ground doing it. These problems of today will eventually become problems of the old. Let's not let this negative issue of diversity beat us, let's continue to do what we do best."

I still think his speech was also a little dismissive of white-washing in the awards show, but IDK I liked what he was saying more than Chris Rock's weird back and forth nonsense.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I see what Hart was trying to say there but, at the same time, if we don't address the problems of today, they are not going to become the problems of old. I don't think any problem has ever solved itself, especially one of inequality. :-\

I wouldn't call "diversity" a negative issue, the issue is LACK OF diversity. Poor choice of words that comes off more as dismissive rather than encouraging.

[c-hrista.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree with that! I get what he was saying but wish the phrasing had been a bit better. It was definitely a little dismissive (much like Chris Rock's seemed to be at parts) but I'm glad that he didn't pull a BUT SEXISM TOO :|

There were so many POC in movies this year and it BAFFLES ME that none of them got awards and that for a second it seemed like nobody was going to say anything about it. I get mad at the "JADA'S ONLY BOYCOTTING BC WILL DIDN'T GET A NOM" because I hope hope hope that's not REALLY why she's on the #Oscarssowhite wagon.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I read reviews of 'Concussion' when it came out and while they said the movie wasn't that great, they said Will Smith was fantastic. So she can be pissed he didn't get nominated, not just because he's her husband but because he did get lots of acclaim.

(and while I loved Mad Max and appreciate the nomination of Danish Girl, even if I know it had it's own issues, both of those very "white" movies could have been replaced with something of higher quality and with better representation. Old Hollywood is Old and it shows on Oscar night. I'm sure they thought both of these movies were "edgy" for nominations, but they are not, the world at large is not impressed. The rest of us know how much more there is out there. I'm not saying these should just pick something because it is diverse, but there are plenty of quality films that are being overlooked probably because of htat.)

[c-hrista.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying these should just pick something because it is diverse, but there are plenty of quality films that are being overlooked probably because of that

YES, this. In an ideal world, people would be able to fairly nominate without their own personal biases impacting who goes home with an award but I'm sure that's not a new wish, nor is it something that's easily changed.