It’s no secret that the Golden Globes has been dubbed the “joke of awards shows” for quite some time, but this year that joke has gone stale. A few days before the awards, celebrities from all facets took to their pages to show their disgust around the lack of diversity of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). If you need me to make it a little plainer, here you go: Of the 87 members, not a single one is Black. But let’s be honest, if you’ve been watching the Golden Globes for a while, you probably already guessed that.
In case you need another reason to be angry, let’s go over some of the biggest snubs of this year. Netflix’s very unimpressive series Emily in Paris, won over Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, and the HFPA failed to nominate any of the years Black-led contenders for best picture: Judas and the Black Messiah, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and One Night in Miami. If that wasn’t enough, three HFPA members took to the stage and tried to piece together 3 performative speeches around the importance of diversity and inclusion. (You know how companies say “We hear you and we stand with you”, when they get caught for doing something racially insensitive?) Needless to say, we aren’t buying it.
However, despite the despite nominations for Black actors and filmmakers being sparse, winners were not in short supply. Maya Angelou said it best “…and still I rise…”. The late Chadwick Boseman was honored with the best actor in a drama award for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” His wife delivered an amazing heart wrenching acceptance on his behalf, and we were once again reminded of his legacy and the many lives he touched. “Soul” took home the award for best animated film, Daniel Kaluuya took home the award for best actor in a supporting in any motion picture for his convincing role as Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah”. Rounding out the night was John Boyega winning best supporting actor in a series for his role in “Small Axe”.
This may be the beginning of the end of the Golden Globes, but it is definitely just the beginning of Black talent getting the recognition we deserve.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93
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