#OscarsSoBlack: Black Actors And Filmmakers FINALLY Get The Recognition They Deserve

The drought is over.

Finally, the Academy has recognized an appropriately large amount of Black actors, actresses and filmmakers for their work in 2016. At least ten nominations have gone to black individuals, and six African American-themed films are represented.

This is a major (and welcome) change from recent years. After a stretch that saw a relatively equal proportion of nominations compared to population statistics, Black actors were completely shut out of the Oscars the past two years, which famously spawned #OscarsSoWhite.

That won’t be the case this year. For acting, Denzel Washington (Fences), Ruth Negga (Loving), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) and Viola Davis (Fences) each received a nomination. That's 6 out of a possible 20 spots, and marks the first time a black performer has been represented in all four categories (Male Lead, Male Supporting, Female Lead, Female Supporting).

Notably, with this most recent nod, Viola Davis becomes the first black actress with three Oscar nominations.

The real coup, however, may be the Best Picture category. Three of the total nine nominations were films with African American themes: Fences, Moonlight, and Hidden Figures.

-Read more here The Ricky Smiley