David Oyelowo Says the Academy Prefers Black Actors in ‘Subservient’ Roles

Actor David Oyelowo is continuing his trek through award season maze as he is being feted for his remarkable portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma.

The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and recently garnered an Academy Award nomination for the same honor. Many expected Oyelowo to get a best actor nod or at the very least Ava DuVernay, Selma’s esteemed director would also be recognized but those expectations were not realized.

Oyelowo expressed his sentiment about how Selma fared with the Academy Award nominations while attending the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The British-Nigerian actor is convinced that Hollywood is more comfortable recognizing black actors when they are not the driving force of the films they are featured in. “We as black people have been celebrated more for when we are subservient, when we are not being leaders or kings, or being in the center of our own narrative driving it forward”.

Oyelowo also pointed out that the viability of films like 12 Years a Slave and The Butler  helped to initiate the genesis of Selma, which is noteworthy because it took a considerable amount of time for a film honoring the legacy of Dr. King to be green lighted. Another indication of Hollywood’s paralyzing gesture when it comes to advocating stories that give actors of color the opportunity to shine.

The glorification of The Help is evidence of how the industry tends to rally around films that showcases black people encompassing a more subdued disposition.

Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar for her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind almost 76 years ago – and that was the beginning of the legacy that still keeps black actors in hostage.

It is a travesty that Bradley Cooper overtook Oyelowo’s claim to a best actor nomination but most importantly it exposes a virus that has been festering for way too long.