Race takes center stage at Academy Awards

Last week, the nation celebrated Martin Luther King Day. In so many ways, we have come so far from when Dr. King fought and died for civil rights. How is it then possible that we seem to be re-gressing at breakneck speed? Race relations are tenser now than they have been in a long time, and now, it is manifesting in the entertainment industry, with the newly launched #OscarsSoWhite movement.

By now we have all heard. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of actor Will Smith, has called for a boycott of the Academy Awards on Feb. 28. Apparently believing her husband deserved a nomination for his portrayal of Dr. Bennet Omalu in "Concussion," she railed against the lack of diversity in the nominees. This is the second consecutive year that all the acting categories consisted of white actors. Director Spike Lee has chimed in, stating he will not attend. And comedian Chris Rock is being called upon to boycott, as well, rather than host the prestigious event. Many have given their two cents -- entertainers, politicians, your local grocer. As usual, opinions are a dime a dozen.

How can people who are so fond of Dr. King, invoking his name and quoting his dream, be so far removed from actually grasping one of the most important messages he sought to convey? He did not dream of special privileges. Nonetheless, this is what some both want and expect. These people have totally missed it.

I admit I am no movie buff. I do not know the inner workings of the Academy Awards. And let me be clear: If there is evidence of racism, I say go after it with full force. Expose it, oppose it and defeat it. But citing that black actors were not nominated is not evidence. It does not prove discrimination. What if no black actors were worthy? Should they be included simply because they're black -- simply because the Academy is pressured to represent all races?

The very thought is insulting. It is an insult to all actors of every ethnicity, but it is especially insulting to black actors. Who wants to be honored simply because of their skin color? Every person who takes pride in his craft wants -- no, longs -- to be evaluated on merit alone, longs to be judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character -- in this case, the character he portrays onscreen.

This whole conversation reeks of two things: entitlement and victimhood: "Give me this because I deserve it based on my past plight," and "I've been overlooked simply because of who I am." No. 1: No one owes anyone anything. No. 2: No one should be called upon to make up for past hurts by throwing out undeserved accolades.

Have black people ever been "snubbed" at the Academy Awards? I imagine so. But I also imagine that white people have been snubbed, and women have been snubbed, and we could go on. People have been snubbed because people are doing the voting, and people are a flawed bunch. Strong-arming voters in a subjective process does not add character to that process or respect to the outcome.

But now, the Academy president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs -- a black woman, by the way -- has announced rules changes, some of them needful perhaps. One change, however, is to double the number of minority voters, to add more black people to the voting mix. The implication is that white people aren't capable of voting for black people. How about we just call on people to vote for people? If changes need to be made, make them, but do so without unsubstantiated accusations of racism and promises to boycott.

With these calls to boycott, meetings to change rules and pressure to pander, what about next year's nominees? Oh, you better believe black actors will be nominated next year. But what will be the response? Will people look at them cross-eyed? We all know what they'll be thinking: "Is she here because folks raised a stink last year?" "Does he really deserve this nod?" There is an abundance of talented actors -- of all backgrounds -- and those who are worthy of Academy Award recognition deserve better than to have an asterisk over their Oscar, but there will be one. Furthermore, expect the new black voting members to be labeled "tokens." And God help them if their votes don't turn out to be diverse enough for the masses; they'll be harassed and branded "sellouts."

This the problem with skewing Dr. King's dream: Rather than eliminating the color factor, it makes color a key factor. Rather than uniting, it divides. And rather than encouraging us to work harder, it incites us to distrust deeper. In other words, rather than propelling the country forward, it drags us backwards.

Don't we deserve better?

Adrienne Ross is an editor, writer, public speaker, former teacher and coach, Southeast Mis-sourian editorial board member and owner of Adrienne Ross Communications.