The Oscars: Showcasing Diversity in Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Movements
If you missed last night’s Oscars, here is a (very) brief recap on the movements and people that recognized the societal shift towards inclusivity.
Last night’s diversity was reflective of: the garments (mix of sustainable wear [shout out to Lakeith Stanfield] and traditional high fashion) worn as canvasses for pins dedicated to flourishing movements beyond the boundaries of a hashtag like Times Up, MeToo, and WearOrange. The attendees that were thoughtful of the Micro-cultural America we live in today, honoring ethnic and racial diversity outside the one-size-represents-all. The honored attendees that were proudly part of the LGTBQ community and the discussion of acceptance. And the women, who work in all aspects of the film industry (or just live) and continue to fight for safety, equality and civil assurance within the workplace and the greater society.
Additionally, the opportunity to use the momentum of the Oscars was not passed up. Introducers like (host) Jimmy Kimmel, Tiffanny Hadish, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek (alongside 2 other Harvey Weinstein accusers), Lupita Nyongo, Kumal Nanjiani and many more (remember the Oscars is a 3-hour long event), graced the stage with elegance and intensity as they identified their presence as a mirror for what representation and inclusion looks like. Performers like Common, Andra Day and the talent behind “Remember Me” from Pixar’s “Coco” painted the stage with culture, colors and collectivism. Speeches made by Frances McDormand for Best Actor and Guillermo De Toro for Best Director (of The Shape of Water which took home Best Picture) highlighted the change within Hollywood to “erase the lines in the sand” (said by De Toro) and use the medium of Film as an outlet of expression and a potrayal of gender, ethnicity and cultures.
The work honored at the 2018 Oscars and the moments we witnessed proved the beauty of inclusion and the importance of the acknowledgement of acceptance, success, and multiplicity.
Today (and always), all of us at the Dhana Tribe are proud to be lovers of film, art and humanity at large this year as we welcome Women’s History Month and continue the movement towards transitioning niche to norm, to love and support all.