Hollywood’s Golden Globe Awards are known for their glitz and glam, but this year they are striving to redeem themselves. This is in part because of the #OscarSoWhite movement of 2016 that highlighted the lack of diversity in major awards shows. In response, this year’s Golden Globes feature a slate of diverse nominees and presenters like Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae and Ken Jeong; many of whom have become symbols of progress in the entertainment industry. This blog post will examine how much progress has been made since 2016 and what steps the Golden Globes and Hollywood must take to continue to promote diversity within the industry.
The Golden Globes and Hollywood’s history of discrimination
Hollywood’s history of discrimination is well-documented. The Golden Globes have been no exception to this, with a long history of overlooking minorities in both its nominations and winners. This year, however, the Golden Globes made a concerted effort to diversify its nominees, with a record number of minority actors and actresses being recognized. This is a welcome change, but it remains to be seen if Hollywood will continue to make such progress in the future.
The Golden Globes 2021 nominations and their lack of diversity
As the Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning, social media was quick to point out the lack of diversity among the nominees.
This year’s Golden Globe nominations are dominated by white actors and actresses, with only a handful of people of color being represented. Out of the 25 acting nominees, only four are people of color. And all 20 of the directing nominees are white.
This lack of diversity is especially glaring given the recent push for more inclusion in Hollywood. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign drew attention to the lack of racial diversity in Oscar nominations, and this year’s Golden Globes seem to be heading in the same direction.
Some people are calling for a boycott of the Golden Globes, saying that Hollywood needs to do better when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Others are pointing out that this year’s nominees simply reflect the lack of diversity in Hollywood as a whole. Either way, it’s clear that there’s still a long way to go when it comes to inclusion in Hollywood.
The Golden Globe Awards ceremony and its focus on diversity
The Golden Globes ceremony this year focused heavily on diversity, both in terms of the nominees and the winners. This was a marked change from previous years, when the awards show was widely criticized for its lack of inclusion.
This year’s ceremony saw several wins for people of color, including Regina King, Awkwafina, and Sandra Oh. There were also wins for films with diverse casts and stories, such as “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”
This focus on diversity is likely a response to the criticism the Golden Globes have received in recent years. By making an effort to recognize and celebrate diversity, the Golden Globes are hoping to redeem themselves and regain trust from viewers.
How Hollywood can do better when it comes to inclusion and diversity
Hollywood has long been criticized for its lack of diversity, both on-screen and behind the scenes. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign highlighted the issue in 2015, when all 20 acting nominees were white.
The Golden Globes have been no stranger to this criticism, either. In 2018, the HFPA was widely mocked for nominating all-white acting slates in every category.
This year, however, things are different. For the first time in Golden Globe history, every single acting nominee is a person of color. This is a huge step forward for Hollywood inclusion and diversity.
But there’s still more work to be done. Hollywood needs to do better when it comes to inclusion and diversity across the board, not just in front of the camera but also behind it. There are still far too many stories being told that don’t reflect the reality of our world today.
We need more women directors, more people of color in leadership positions, and more LGBTQ+ characters on screen. Only then will Hollywood truly be reflective of the world we live in today.
Conclusion
The Golden Globes, with its focus on diversity and inclusion, has made it clear that Hollywood is taking steps to redeem itself from past mistakes. This awards season was marked by a greater presence of minorities in the nominations and winners list, as well as an increased representation of LGBTQ+ characters. We hope that this trend will continue in future years and be reflected in more award shows, not just the Golden Globes. Diversity should be celebrated across all mediums and we are looking forward to what the future holds for the entertainment industry!
