Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty
UPDATE: Jada Pinkett Smith recently responded to Janet Hubert’s criticism of her Oscar boycott.
“Considering that Alabama had its highest recruitment for the KKK for Martin Luther King’s birthday, I hope that we as African-Americans can find a way to get along and step together,” said Jada (A North Carolina based chapter of the Ku Klux Klan chapter distributed recruitment flyers to residents in Mobile, Alabama during MLK.)
She also added, “This whole Oscar controversy isn’t really about the Oscars…really, in my plea to ask all communities and people of color to take back our power is so that we can use it in all sectors of our community, and right now, specifically with African-American people, we have some very serious issues that I think we as a people have to move together on. I’m hoping we can find ways to step together in this instead of finding ways to fight each other. I got love for everybody.”
Click here to see the video of Jada’s response to Janet.
ORINGINAL STORY:
Jada Pinkett Smith recently ignited a heated debate over whether or not African American actors should boycott this year’s Academy Awards, given the lack of diversity. The “Gotham” star didn’t hold back her outrage that the 20 actors nominated for Oscars were white.
The actress has since acknowledged President Cheryl Boone Isaacs‘ plan to do the work necessary to ensure the makeup of the Academy is more reflective of the real world.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy, specifically Cheryl Boone Isaacs, for such a quick response in regard to the issue at hand. I look forward to the future” said Jada on her Facebook page.
Jada’s latest statements are quite calm given her previous opinions on the situation.
“At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments” she initially said in a series of tweets. “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.”
In response to the boycott spearheaded by Smith as well as director Spike Lee and civil rights activist, Al Sharpton, Isaacs released a statement.
“The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond.”
She also added, “In the ‘60s and ‘70s, it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and I so appreciate all of you who have reached out to me in our effort to move forward together.”
Beauties, do you think Jada’s response is a sign that she and Will have changed their mind about attending the Oscars ceremony?
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