Oscars' Controversy From a Person with a Disability's Point of View

Hey Everyone!

So as most of you know, there is a controversy surrounding the popular awards show, the Academy Awards also known as the Oscars.

If you don't know the exact controversy. It is the fact that most (all) nominees are white which leads to the controversy of there not being enough diversity in the awards. #OscarsSoWhite was one of the top trends on Twitter for a couple days after the Oscars' nominees were announced.

Now, before I go into my own thoughts about this controversy - I just want you to know that I know that there is still a racial and diversity problem in the country. But to me there's more to it then race.

My first question to all the non-nominees: Do you really want to be nominated based on your race? Or based on your talent?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Will Smith was great in Concussion and I'm sure Straight Outta Compton was a great movie but maybe the other actors/actresses were slightly better? which would leave them to be nominated.

I mean there are only five nominees right in each category? Not everyone can be nominated. But, there is a point that I see from the other side. There should still be more of a diverse list of nominees.

But can we discuss that word: Diversity. What exactly is diversity? It means a "range of different things" which in this case would be a range of different types of people depending on: race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Disability is a part of diversity but people are not complaining that there isn't any representation of people with disabilities at the Oscars or the film industry (or any industry, really). Nope. Not at all. You can find more about Including Disability in one of my previous posts.

I have a question for those who are complaining about the lack of diversity in award shows. You are speaking of race right? You're saying that there isn't any representation of Black in the nominees right? And you're right. There isn't. But I don't see anyone standing up for people with disabilities.

Which I find funny because I think the group, People with Disabilities, have more to complain about. (Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm pro-diversity which includes the racial issues but this subject of disability is important to me and 49 million others).

Now you're probably thinking: "What? What do you mean People with Disabilities have more to complain about?" Well I'm going to answer that question for you.

Let me ask you this: Can you name an actor or actress who has a disability? Have you seen someone with a disability in a show or movie? If so, are they really a person with a disability?

I'll answer some of these questions. There's a 90% chance that the person you see is not a person with a disability (especially in the big time shows or movies). Switched at Birth is one of the shows that indeed definitely has real people with disabilities in it.

The guy in Glee (sorry didn't watch Glee so I don't know his name) is not really a wheelchair user and we all know Drake from Degrassi isn't really a wheelchair user but they use these "fake" disabled people. Why? I don't know. To make it work with the story-line? I know most shows/movies include the story-line of: person to have been injured which would leave them into a wheelchair

But don't you think with today's technology, they can do something about that?

And let me tell you one thing, there is zero (less than 1%) representation of people with disabilities in the big name award shows (Golden Globes, Oscars, Grammy's, etc.).

There are so many people with disabilities who are singers, actors/actresses, writers, etc. but they don't get the opportunities to be in the "spotlight" because of the story-line. So I'm asking you this right now, how is that helping the conversation of diversity?

Again, those who are complaining about not having the chance to win an award to acknowledge that they're great at what they do. We know that you're great at what you do. We see it. We see you on the big and small screens. We hear you on the radio. We see you on the stage.

But what we don't see is the group of people who want to be on the small and big screens, radio, etc. because there isn't a "necessity" (since we can 'make' someone disabled by using technology to make an abled actor into a disabled actor).

You're fighting over an award while you should be honored to get to do what you love to do while there are many who don't get to do what they love.

So please remember when you're debating with yourself whether to boycott the Oscars (or any other awards show) or not, that you're getting the opportunity to do what you love (acting, filming, directing, etc.) when there are thousands to millions of those who don't get that opportunity or even to be considered.

Again, there are more parts of Diversity than race, gender, age, sexual orientation and I wish in today's world, people would remember that.

Do I think boycotting the Oscars could help? Maybe.
Do I think the conversation of getting more Black nominees will help all diversity? Maybe.

But it won't if again the word disability is not used in conversations.

By the way, don't criticize those who are nominated or those who decide to go to the Oscars because who knows, it might be the only time they do get nominated (while you may have a chance).

I'll leave you with this - if you're only going to include one group when discussing diversity, then you're not being diversed either. It all starts with you.

(Remember, I know there's still a racial problem but remember diversity is more than one group)

Leave your thoughts below!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3