# So it seems the claim that the Oscars are snubbing black people is false **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611 "2016-01-19T19:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![tombennett91](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@tombennett91](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tombennett91)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/121 "2016-01-22T22:26:59Z")
I do believe it’s more of a studio issue then an academy one. Then again there are a ton of white performances nominated that are clearly no better the black performances. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/122 "2016-01-23T00:29:33Z")
The problem with the claim that it’s an accident is that people called it. People noted that there were several black actors who were Oscar caliber. They noticed that there was a higher number of good black roles. And they still predicted that black people would be snubbed. And I just don’t like the implications of all these black people getting upset about something, and all these white people telling them, “There’s no problem here.” There clearly is a problem. The Academy, who has a ton of influence on the industry, is not trusted to not be racist. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/123 "2016-01-23T00:50:18Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > In general, the studios are in the business of making and selling an entertainment product. With 60% of the population being white and 10% being black (I’m accepting the stats up-thread), it makes financial sense to try to appeal to the white audience. When does a sound financial decision become racist? That’s the easiest question I’ve seen asked in this thread. Whenever that decision actually involves making race a deciding factor–and not in an attempt to fix a previous imbalance. I never really get this question. It’s not as if making money is some moral good that has to balanced against the moral good of not being racist. There is nothing that becomes less wrong because someone pays you to do it. It’s one thing to cater a show to a specific group of interests. It’s another to include race in that criteria. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/124 "2016-01-23T02:05:36Z")
One would think the smartest movie producer is the one who makes a movie that people of all races will buy tickets to see. “Star Wars,” for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/125 "2016-01-23T19:36:23Z")
It’s the Asians’ fault. Bill Maher said so and he’s always right…Left I mean. > **[Bill Maher: The Oscars’ Diversity Problem Is ‘Racist’ Asians’ Fault](https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-the-oscars-diversity-problem-is-racist-asians-fault?source=TDB&via=FB_Page)** > > With Seth MacFarlane by his side, Bill Maher mocks Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz and reveals the “dirty little secret” behind #OscarsSoWhite. ---
**Author:** ![inscrutable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e4f/32.png) [@inscrutable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inscrutable)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/126 "2016-01-23T23:53:55Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > It is childish and idiotic to think that Academy Award talent is distributed in the same way that race (bold, aren’t I???) is. > > IOW, WTF should X percent of black actors receive awards just because that is their percentage of the population? Because whiny liberal social justice warriors will always find racism in everything, forever. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/127 "2016-01-24T03:34:01Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > 29 nominations > 9 wins > no bias So you grab a couple of numbers and that’s it, case closed? Without knowing a lot more about how many featured black roles there were each year, amount of critical acclaim for various roles, awards and nominations from other entities (Golden Globes, etc.), it’s not even a very good start. So there’s not much excuse for your certainty, but what makes it more laughable is that you’re the guy who will literally spend days in the threads on religion or the Bible, demanding IRONCLAD PROOF, and if you don’t get it, you reject the consensus of even secular scholars. Do you think maybe you’re being a little inconsistent? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/128 "2016-01-24T03:47:50Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > So you grab a couple of numbers and that’s it, case closed? Without knowing a lot more about how many featured black roles there were each year, amount of critical acclaim for various roles, awards and nominations from other entities (Golden Globes, etc.), it’s not even a very good start. Yeah, I can be a bit stubborn and perhaps I was wrong to even make this thread. I have made some attempts at least to look at or accept a different POV: [56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19029879&postcount=56) [59](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19029898&postcount=59) > [@](#): > > So there’s not much excuse for your certainty, but what makes it more laughable is that you’re the guy who will literally spend days in the threads on religion or the Bible, demanding IRONCLAD PROOF, and if you don’t get it, you reject the consensus of even secular scholars. > > Do you think maybe you’re being a little inconsistent? Yeah, you’re right, my approach to criticizing religion and my dislike and obsession for that topic defiently needs improvement. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/129 "2016-01-24T16:03:42Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > Because whiny liberal social justice warriors will always find racism in everything, forever. Cite, please. Or is this merely useless drive-by horseshit that does nothing to contribute to a discussion among adults? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611/130 "2016-01-24T19:28:58Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > Because whiny liberal social justice warriors will always find racism in everything, forever. > [@andros](#): > > Cite, please. > > Or is this merely useless drive-by horseshit that does nothing to contribute to a discussion among adults? \*\*inscrutable, you were out of line. However, let us drop this before it turns into bickering. [/Moderating] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-the-claim-that-the-oscars-are-snubbing-black-people-is-false/743611.md?page=6)