A new study reveals the Oscars are made up of 87% white members.
The Academy has recently taken steps to encourage diversity among their members after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy hit an all-time-high last month. But, a closer look at its membership provides a clear picture of exactly non-white actors are facing in Hollywood.
According to a report from The New York Times, only 6% of actors in the Academy’s membership are black, under 4% are Hispanic and less than 2% are Asian. In fact, the actors branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is 87% white and overwhelmingly made up of older, male members. More than 2/3rds are over 60 years old, and only 42% are women.
This year’s #OscarsSoWhite debate began after not a single non-white actor was nominated for any of the four acting categories at the Academy Awards. In addition, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs released a plan that she believes could create more diversity in the next five years. Included in that new iniative is a new yearly recruiting effort, the addition of three more board of governonr seats and the implementation of a voting rights review every 10 years.
Some people were excited about the new diversity efforts, while others are upset that non-white actors and movie-goers are complaining about the lack of diversity in Hollywood.
The New York Times reports that in order to meet Isaacs’ new goals, the Academy would have to add 14 black actors and nine Hispanic or Asian actors each year.
