Member-only story
We Don’t Need White Award Shows to Celebrate Our Achievements
These were White award shows and still are
When I woke up and saw the nominations for the Golden Globes, and the shutting out of almost all talent that wasn’t White, I was furious. Particularly as the nominations made no sense, but then again many of us are judging based on talent, not based on White comfort or White preferences. However, this awards show is White, just like the Oscars and the majority of awards shows here. Their origins, like most establishments praised for their longevity, means they existed and began at a time when Black people and people of color were not even considered to be a part of said establishment. As such, they are acting within their wheelhouse, so why am I shocked? It’s time we did more than look shocked that an organization that began to showcase White talent is still doing that.
If a lot of the people who vote for their nominees are White, and we acknowledge White people, often due to lack of experience or their own ingrained biases, are unable to engage with our works let alone connect with them then, whether they view our films or not, the end result will be the same. So why are we trying to be included when they lack the bandwidth to engage?
These award shows were not founded on inclusivity, or on equality. It had racism…
