Jada wrote a tweet following the announcement stating, “At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment.” She followed the tweet later with a video of her expressing this disappointment and calling all Black entertainers to boycott the show.

Spike Lee certainly agreed with her in his own instagram post and a Hamilton quote;

#OscarsSoWhite… Again. I Would Like To Thank President Cheryl Boone Isaacs And The Board Of Governors Of The Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences For Awarding Me an Honorary Oscar This Past November. I Am Most Appreciative. However My Wife, Mrs. Tonya Lewis Lee And I Will Not Be Attending The Oscar Ceremony This Coming February. We Cannot Support It And Mean No Disrespect To My Friends, Host Chris Rock and Producer Reggie Hudlin, President Isaacs And The Academy. But, How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White? And Let’s Not Even Get Into The Other Branches. 40 White Actors In 2 Years And No Flava At All. We Can’t Act?! WTF!! It’s No Coincidence I’m Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday. Dr. King Said “There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It’s Right”. For Too Many Years When The Oscars Nominations Are Revealed, My Office Phone Rings Off The Hook With The Media Asking Me My Opinion About The Lack Of African-Americans And This Year Was No Different. For Once, (Maybe) I Would Like The Media To Ask All The White Nominees And Studio Heads How They Feel About Another All White Ballot. If Someone Has Addressed This And I Missed It Then I Stand Mistaken. As I See It, The Academy Awards Is Not Where The “Real” Battle Is. It’s In The Executive Office Of The Hollywood Studios And TV And Cable Networks. This Is Where The Gate Keepers Decide What Gets Made And What Gets Jettisoned To “Turnaround” Or Scrap Heap. This Is What’s Important. The Gate Keepers. Those With “The Green Light” Vote. As The Great Actor Leslie Odom Jr. Sings And Dances In The Game Changing Broadway Musical HAMILTON, “I WANNA BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS”. People, The Truth Is We Ain’t In Those Rooms And Until Minorities Are, The Oscar Nominees Will Remain Lilly White. (Cont’d)

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Jan 18, 2016 at 5:03am PST

There have been huge debates all over social media whether or not actors should boycott the Oscars or would it even make a difference at all. Similarly, should we even care about the Oscars or should we just make our own? Here’s the danger with that- I think society as a whole has often equated Oscars exclusively with whiteness when in fact it shouldn’t represent that. It should represent the best in film. Period. Point blank. I’d also add, we already have shows that recognize Black entertainers on the regular but even in our own communities we don’t respect them and some A-list black celebrities don’t bother to even show up.

For some, an Oscar simply represents the highest honor in ones film career field. While I am one who thinks that art is super subjective and  already wary of awards in performances, it doesn’t diminish the fact that there are many performances from Black actors that were are “award worthy.” One place I’ve noticed Black actors having some achievement in is on the stage and at the Tony Awards.

I will never forget the 2013 Tony’s when four out the eight acting categories were given to Black men and women (Cicely Tyson, Patina Miller, Coutney B. Vance and Billy Porter). Or in 2010 when it was a Fences and Fela! takeover. Even when Audra McDonald became the first person in Tony’s history to win one in every acting category possible and has the title of having the most Tony Awards as a performer.

While this isn’t to say the Tonys are completely perfect and without fault, I think over the years the Tony’s has gotten better at being more inclusive. Their nominations are usually on the money, and I can guarantee you this year Black actors will be winning again. So what makes the Tony’s so different? What are they doing right?

Well for one, I think the theatre world is more diverse and open to things that differ from the typical white storytelling narratives. I also think because the voting pool is so small and the voters actually go to the shows, their nominations are much more valid. So why can’t the academy admit their current system is broken and find ways to fix it? Well Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs responded to the Oscar boycott saying they would look into what qualifies for membership to help diversify the pool, so I guess that’s a step in the right direction. My only problem with that is, how long will it last?

The post Have The Tonys Been More Fair Than The Oscars? appeared first on Broadway Black.

Reprising her role from the previous film, Miller portrays ‘Commander Paylor’ in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2”. In the book, her character is a military leader who is a valuable part of the rebels cause. She rises to lead them and is seen in the film trailer giving a call to action before advancing on the enemy.

These films about a dystopian future and the revolution that takes place in the name of justice has been consistent in featuring characters from all backgrounds in various levels of status and authority. Furthermore, the theme of banding together to combat forces that are mistreating, dehumanizing, and oppressing the masses with their years-old power structures is something that is not at all reserved for fiction. Miller’s role in this story is one of great inspiration as more and more leaders are being called to stand up and speak out in anyway they can against the powers that be who are killing the innocent and obstructing freedom.

Patina Miller has thrilled audiences with her performances on stage in the West End and Broadway production of Sister Act as well as the Central Park production of Hair. Miller can also be seen in the CBS political drama, “Madame Secretary.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2” arrives in theaters November 20. See Patina Miller in the latest trailer below!

The post Patina Miller In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II appeared first on Broadway Black.

Many may remember Sasha Allen from the indie cult-classic, Camp (check out the Broadway Black article about the upcoming sequel!!) However, it was her role as “Dionne” in the 2009 Broadway production of Hair that caused the theater community to really take notice. Since then, she has been conquering music, film, television, and now back on the stage as the “Leading Player” in Pippin; continuing a tradition set by Tony Award winners Ben Vereen and Patina Miller.

Pippin follows the journey of the son King Charles as he searches for purpose and direction in his life. This national tour continues the amazing storytelling set by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and director Diane Paulus in the 2013 revival with stunning acrobatics and brilliant choreography based in the Bob Fosse tradition.
For tickets and more information, visit www.pippinthemusical.com

Check out Pippin: The National Touring Production Montage!

The post Sasha Allen Shines In Pippin National Tour appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNrBTLNUKxw

The post In Case You Missed It: The 2013 Tony Awards [VIDEO] appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwFJBw67pJM

The post Tony Awards 2013: Cicely Tyson Wins Best Actress In A Play appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD3ymJl7fKw

The post The Cast Of Bring It On Performs At The Tony appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://youtu.be/WRcpZYRABDA

The post Tony Awards 2013: Courtney B Vance Wins Best Featured Actor In a Play appeared first on Broadway Black.

The post Tony Awards 2013: Patina Miller Wins Best Actress In A Musical appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://youtu.be/7AbMyTLU8V8

The post The Cast Of Motown The Musical Perform On The Tonys appeared first on Broadway Black.

http://youtu.be/BCGoN5e7Keg

“New York! Singing all the lyrics we made up. There’s nothing we can’t do. Broadway in New York. These Tony winners are brand new. Their work will inspire you. Let’s hear it for NEW YORK!”

The post Audra McDonald Closes The Tonys With A Jay-Z Song appeared first on Broadway Black.