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At the 98th Academy Awards, Michael B. Jordan won best actor for his roles as both \u201cStack\u201d and \u201cSmoke\u201d in the critically acclaimed film \u201cSinners,\u201d directed by Ryan Coogler. The film received 16 nominations, including best original<\/a> screenplay and best cinematography<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For many viewers, to see a film centered on Black culture, Black history, Black music, racism and cultural appropriation recognized on a stage that historically hasn\u2019t paid everyone their due flowers was impactful. Jordan’s win is a poignant one, but it reminds everyone of the importance of diverse recognition in the entertainment industry and how it remains a relevant issue to this day.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is a complicated history with industry organizations and Black creatives; to understand it one must look back to gain context.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the Academy Awards being held for nearly a century, according to inclusionlist.org,<\/a> only 2% of all nominees and 2% of all winners from 1929 to 2026 at the Oscars were Black.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first Black actress to win an Oscar for \u201cGone With the Wind,\u201d as the character \u201cMammy,\u201d a powerful victory and symbol of Black resilience in the industry. Despite this, McDaniel was forced to sit at a segregated<\/a> table away from her cast members at the event. This symbolized how even in moments of success; Black creatives<\/a> still deal with the effects of racism in the industry and have for far too long.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sidney Poitier<\/a> won \u201cBest Actor\u201d for “Lilies of the Field\u201d in 1964, becoming the first Black actor to win the category. Poitier\u2019s win paved the way for future \u201cBest Actor\u201d winners, including the likes of Denzel<\/a> Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx and later Jordan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although representation increased in the following decades after Poitier\u2019s win, the fight for diverse recognition in film continues. In the 2010s, the Academy notably faced backlash for its continued lack of diversity.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Jan. 15, 2015, Twitter activist<\/a> April Reign tweeted \u201c#OscarsSoWhite they asked to touch my hair,\u201d sparking a viral<\/a> reaction. This was in response to 20 acting nominations being given to white actors. The #OscarsSoWhite Movement addressed the very present lack of diversity in Oscar nominations.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2016, the Academy<\/a> presented their acting nominations for the upcoming awards of consistently white actors. This prompted celebrities such as Spike<\/a> Lee and Jada<\/a> Pinkett Smith to boycott the Oscars, because of their lack of diversity. The #OscarsSoWhite Movement shows that diverse recognition is not an issue of the past, but a continuing and relevant issue in the 21st century.<\/p>\n Similarly, the Recording Academy has long had accusations of racial bias with its nominations. In 1989, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff won \u201cBest Rap Performance,\u201d but decided to skip the Grammys ceremony after finding out it wouldn\u2019t be televised<\/a>, demanding that rap gain the respect that it deserved.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 2010s featured some controversial wins, such as in 2013, Macklemore<\/a> won best rap album for “The Heist\u201d over Kendrick Lamar\u2019s \u201cGood Kid, m.A.A.d City.\u201d Similarly, Adele won \u201cAlbum of the Year<\/a>\u201d for her album \u201c25\u201d over Beyonc\u00e9’s \u201cLemonade,\u201d which caused significant controversy, especially noting the cultural success of \u201cLemonade.\u201d<\/p>\n These were widely considered snubs and represent a continued conversation on the role of award shows when it comes to properly recognizing cultural impact.<\/p>\n In the 2010s, artist Frank<\/a> Ocean boycotted the Grammys because he felt the award show didn\u2019t properly recognize Black artists, much like the boycotters of 1989.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 2020s have seen some notable Grammy wins, including Lamar winning \u201cRecord of the Year\u201d for \u201cNot Like Us\u201d and Beyonc\u00e9 winning \u201cBest Country Album<\/a>\u201d for \u201cCowboy Carter\u201d in 2025. While there have been significant victories in the entertainment industry, it\u2019s also true that there remains work to be done when it comes to recognition in the film and music industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite recent victories, organizations in the entertainment industry still have a necessary responsibility to acknowledge contributions and the cultural impact of artists of all backgrounds and of all cultures.<\/p>\n David Asamoah is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of <\/em>The Post. Want to talk to David about his column? Email him at da602024@ohio.edu.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n