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Congressman Johnson on the outcome of the Oscars

February 28, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement after the results of The Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards Show.

"Last year I challenged the Academy to be diverse and inclusive. Improvements have been made but there is still more work to be done," said Congressman Johnson who in 2016 joined Congressman John Conyers, Jr. in sending a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to promote racial and gender diversity on screen. "We will continue to celebrate the history that was made at the 2017 Academy Awards. We know that a record number of wins was achieved by African Americans. This year's Academy Awards showcased the most diverse group of winners since the show began in 1929. However we cannot deny those who may feel left out, both behind and in front of the camera."

"While we praise future on screen greats such as Viola Davis, who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in "Fences," or Mahershela Ali who became the first black Muslim actor to win an Oscar when he took home the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Moonlight." We can't ignore the facts. Dev Patel is only the third actor of Indian descent to land an acting nomination. Of the more than 1,500 Oscar acting nominations over the years, only 16 have gone to Asian actors, or one percent. "The motion picture industry has long been a crucial ally in the fight for justice, telling the stories that help us to see one another in a different light. We believe Hollywood should be on the leading edge of inclusion, and the Academy, by recognizing excellence from all viewpoints, can help achieve that goal."