The release of the nominations list for this year’s Academy Awards has sparked a firestorm of debate over the lack of diversity represented in the nominees.
Somewhat poetically, the same problem has been thrust to the forefront in the United Kingdom, after actor Idris Elba also delivered a speech before the UK Parliament addressing the same problem.
Elba, the black star of ‘Beasts of No Nation’, who was recently awarded an OBE, and has been touted non-stop as a suitable candidate as to play the first Black Bond; spoke to the house on the lack of diversity in the business, and inequality in the levels of opportunity available to actors of different stripes in the UK.
His pivotal speech touched on many issues, not just necessarily on under-use of black actors; but on the whole the failure of the Tv world to accurately reflect the real diversity in society.
TV after all, is supposed to be a sort of mirror of society.
“I’m not here to talk about black people; I’m here to talk about diversity.” He said.
“Diversity in the modern world is more than just skin colour – it’s gender, age, disability, s*xual orientation, social background, and – most important of all, as far as I’m concerned – diversity of thought.
“Because if you have genuine diversity of thought among people making TV & film, then you won’t accidentally shut out any of the groups I just mentioned.” He added.
You can watch an excerpt of his speech below…a full transcript can be found here…
 

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