The glamorous Oscars evening saw some stunning moments. Marks were made, and bars were raised. Yes, in fashion and talent. But most importantly, it was an ode to diversity and inclusion.
In a shift from tradition, for the first time, 2022 Oscars was hosted by women. Co-hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes in their opening monologues fired well-meaning shots at hot topics.
“This year, the Academy hired three women to host because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” Schumer guffawed.
Jane Campion became just the third woman in 94 years of the award show to win the best director for The Power of the Dog starring Benedict Cumberbatch. A necessary acceleration to empowering women, she also won the Silver Lion for Best Direction at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, 2021.
CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) won the best picture. The coming-of-age drama is about 17-year old Ruby’s struggles to keep her family’s fish business afloat while pursuing her singing aspiration. Troy Kotsur (53) became the first-ever deaf actor (male) to win the best supporting actor in Oscar history. He also won BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Critics’ Choice Awards.
In a moving speech delivered in American Sign Language, the actor dedicated his award to “The deaf community, the Coda community, the disabled community. This is our moment.” His interpreter was not the only one who teared up.
Ariana DeBose won the Oscar for the best-supporting actress for her role as Anita in West Side Story. “Even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true,” DeBose said in her acceptance speech. She made a point to describe herself as, “An openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who found her strength in art… There is indeed a place for us.”
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson won an Oscar for the best documentary. His Summer of Soul details the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
The festival was a series of music concerts, held annually in Harlem, Manhattan, and New York City. Between 1967 and 1974, and celebrated African American music and culture. The most successful 1969 edition became known informally as Black Woodstock—a symbol of black pride.
“This is about marginalized people in Harlem that needed to heal from pain,” Ahmir said in his acceptance speech.
The celebrities also stood up in a moment of empathy and grief for Ukraine. “While the film is an important avenue for us to express our humanity in times of conflict, the reality is millions of families in Ukraine need food, medical care, clean water, and emergency services,” the boards read. Suffice to say, it was a stellar event, promisingly inclusive.
