Golden Oscar's Black Category

White Americans are the racial majority. African Americans or Blacks to simplify, especially with some like Whoopi Goldberg saying they are just plain American, but in order for me to differentiate in a post about race... are the largest American racial minority amounting to 13.2% of the population.

Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to 17.1% of the population, making up the largest ethnic minority. For more on that see, race vs ethnicity.

13.2% of Americans are Black? That's hard to believe because much of the time it feels more like 30% or 40% with all the news coverage. Of course much of that may have to do with other issues like 24 hour news cycles and news trying to sell advertising, the bane of news media. Even if the overall numbers of Blacks aren't that large, their issues surely are. I'm just surprised the number is so low.

I only mention this because of the recent noise about the Oscars being too white. All of this is a complex subject, but I will try to keep this brief, or it could go on at length. Consider also how this somewhat has to do with any racial minority (or minority in general) in any country anywhere in the world.

Statistically, it's possible if not reasonable for there not to be nominations other than whites. I don't find it despicable as some are in speaking out about this. Unfair? Possibly.

In 2014, Blacks were 13.2%, in 2010 - 12.6%. So, really? Well, apparently so. That just makes it look less horrible.

I was thinking in my ignorance that it was about them not getting nominated, not that they simply do not exist in the Academy. That somehow whites weren't voting for them, not that there weren't enough Blacks to vote for themselves. If there are just more white films, it just makes it harder for Black films to get voted up, it's in the numbers. It must mean we need more Blacks and Hispanics in the Academy.

Let's face it, the winners being chosen has a hell of a lot more to do with who wins than quality.

Yet you have to consider the numbers nationwide, too. Who is paying for the movies that are being watched? It makes me wonder at the anger over the Oscars in there being no Blacks being nominated. Though I can see how it could happen, considering just the statistics and the stats of the Academy.

"Oscar voters are nearly 94% Caucasian and 77% male, the LA Times found. Blacks are about 2% of the academy, Latinos even less at less than 2%."

Here's my point.

Perhaps we need a category for best picture and actor\actress in the black category.

Blacks do win Oscars and I'm not saying eliminate them from that potential mainstream avenue. If however, they had their own category, this could simply never happen again. In that vein there would always be a black actor Oscar every year. Until it starts not happening anymore in the mainstream categories wherein we could then delete that special category and perhaps give it to Hispanics and Latinos.

Then the Hispanics. 2014 - 17.4% (2010 - 16.3%). Wait. So there's more Hispanics? So where is the outrage there? Was a Hispanic nominated? Did I miss someone? I'm very confused. Then why don't we have a Hispanic category same as I mentioned above for Blacks.

Do we need one for Latinos now as well as Blacks? Then do we need one for Asians? What about Indians (no, East Indians, not First Nations or "Native American's" (a term I never much cared for)? I don't think we need to get carried away with this.

After all Blacks have a special case in America and with the talk from the UN about reparations for slave descendants, so maybe we should have a special Black category? That way we guarantee not only that they do not get left out at Oscar time, but they are guaranteed to have at least one, best film, actor and actress, and maybe more if they are nominated in the primary categories.

I agree that something has to happen. With numbers on both minorities below 20% each this is simply going to continue to happen. Unless we do something proactive to end this. Baby steps, one step at a time and this could be a first step, a first reasonable and welcome step.

Okay, have at it.

Just know that I only mean well in what I just said. I'm actually on everyone's side. Certainly though I'm not on the side of racists. I am just trying to understand the situation, learn from it and open a discussion and one of the best ways to do that is to suggest a solution. Because you can't fix a solution unless you first have one to consider and modify, or suggest a better suggestion over the initial one.

Talking about a problem after all requires first recognizing the situation, the problem, evaluating it in finding the parameters of the issue, proposing a solution however bad it might be as a starting point, all in order to have something to discuss about it. That, is how we get around to fixing it.

Okay I've done my part. Now it's up to you.

Michelle Obama's Oscar Dress was Photoshopped by Iran

Before I get into this I want to say that I've met Iranians socially over past decades and I've always really liked them. Iranians, Iriquis, Qatarians, Saudis, etc. The ones I met were all mostly pleasant, smart, nice people. Not always enamored with their government leaders for the most part. Wishing mostly that they could separate state and religion. But then they were living in America, too.

We have to remember to separate out the People from the Governments around the world. I don't think North Koreans are stupid people, just deluded by their State leaders and brainwashed over decades. Or take America for example. People I know personally, just aren't the self serving politicians I see in our Government. God help us if other countries think Americans are our Government. Anyway--

Michelle Obama's Oscar Dress was Photoshopped by Iranian [State] Media (photo from E). I could almost understand that that, but not really. You don't alter reality, you cover it up, though either way, you're avoiding it. What kind of religion cannot face reality in face of its beliefs? Not a very strong one obviously. A flawed belief system.

How are we supposed to have any respect for a country or a belief system that requires it and it's adherents to patently avoid reality? What kind of God requires that reality be ignored and lies inserted in its place? Christians? Take heed. This includes some of you. Any religion, especially a State religion that requires avoiding reality is a travesty. No news there, really.


Religion should help you face reality, not avoid or hide from it. That is no belief system at all. Religions should help you have the strength, the Faith, to support you through reality. Hiding from it is useless. It's a way to make a system work when it doesn't, to give the impression that it is working, when it isn't. Catholics are good at this too (see, pedophilia, wonder why they are whitewashing things by sending the Pope off to retirement).


Yes I do realize this is more of a political thing, as with the Taliban, a cowardly, fearful institution ("God Fearing" people right? Therefore it would seem, Cowards. From what I can see, we can include the Iranian Government and their Ayatollah. Yes I said cowardly, something rampant in Muslim extremists including terrorism. Yes, suicide bombers are cowards.

Maybe Bill Maher was wrong. How? When you are too fearful to face reality head on, to live in the modern world, think you are an anachronism (you are), then you die to escape reality. Cowardly. Bill was right that it takes guts to fly a plane into a building, but when taken in context of avoiding reality, it really is cowardly. It's the easy way out. Bang, you're dead, really no long term effort.

Consider this. You're sitting in a fox hole or behind a rock wall. The enemy is shooting at you. You go through this day in and day out. There is no escaping it. It's wearing on you. The "good fight" isn't working for you. You are facing overwhelming force. You may be caught, maimed, killed, tortured. God knows? Right? Isn't it just easier to kill yourself? Many "cowards" take this way out in the face of fear, but also in the face of too much effort. Such as conqueror the "West", the "Great Satan", the "Rest of the world other than your small contingent of losers". But is it cowardly to shoot yourself to avoid the real battle before you? Or to fly a plane into a building?

Well I'm sure this isn't something Iranian media does normally. Photoshopping women, that is. The wife of one the leaders of one of the greatest nations in the world. Something that Iranian despots wish they were (but refuse to take steps so that it can actually happen). But they were probably just thinking of proper decorum in dress for a woman, in not showing skin. Because that's the place of men in the world, to be sure women do what is right. Right? I'm sure that's it. They wouldn't do this about something related to one of their own, a Man. They wouldn't alter what an Iranian Man would like, say. Right?

Last year at the Oscar's Iran couldn't handle some words spoken by one of their directors when he received his.

From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty--

When Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's "A Separation" won the Oscar for best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards on February 26, he said the following in his acceptance speech, according to Iran’s hard-line Fars news agency:

"I proudly offer this award to the people of my country who, despite all the tensions and hostility of recent months between Iran and the West over Iran’s nuclear program, respect all cultures and civilizations."

In fact, Farhadi never mentioned Iran’s nuclear program in his speech. This is what he actually said:

“At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us, and I imagine them to be very happy. They are happy not just because of an important award, or a film, or a filmmaker, but because -- at a time of tug of war, intimidation and aggressions exchanged between politicians -- the name of their county, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics.

"I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment. Thank you so much."

Countries and religions like we see in Iran are going to continue to be a laughing stock in the world forum and not be taken seriously, until they clean up their childish foolishness. Get out of the middle ages, Iran. Please note that this goes to the Iranian leaders, not the Iranian people. Like in America, two different groups entirely.

So grow up Iran. No one is going to give you the respect you so badly desire. That's another immature flaw, respect is earned, not scared out of people. Fear only gets you attacked, leading to a war in order to wise you up (remember Iraq?). So get your act together Iran. And not just you. But any nation of buffoons (North Korea). You are quickly becoming an extinct elite of destroyed dictatorships. After all, Iran still has the Ayatollah who is pretty much still running the show, nothing like a dictatorship direct from God, right? How could THAT ever go wrong? Dictators are on the way out. Wise up.

Even if the world doesn't take you out, sooner or later, your own people will. Sleep uneasy in your bed. It's coming. No matter how long or hard you hang onto power with your dying breath, your bleeding finger nails on the throats of your starving people, be it sustenance they desire through food or as members of the world community, your time is coming and then you'll just be a dirty smudge on the history books of a once great nation. It will happen, it's inevitable. But stand up and do the right thing. Let your people go--

Besides, it's just a matter of time.