Latinos Make History at 86th Academy Awards (u2)

     Sunday, March 2nd was a historical night for minorities at the Academy Awards, specifically Latinos. And if I do say so myself, this is a victory for us all. 

          Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron won the award for Best Director with his space centered drama "Gravity." Cuaron's moving story about a scientist marooned in space (played by Sandra Bullock) was the highest grossing film to be found under the Best Directors category. This is Cuaron's first directorial nomination, although he received nominations in editing and screenwriting, including a nomination for his screenplay for the hit coming-of-age drama "Y Tu Mama Tambien"...which, if I may add, was an excellent if gritty film (perhaps a post on this en el futuro). 

   

     Our second Latin hit at the Oscars was the winner of the coveted Best Supporting Actress award, Mexican-Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o, for her role as a slave named Patsey in "12 Years A Slave", which also won Best Picture. Though Nyong'o lived in Mexico for only three years, she proudly states that she identifies as Mexican-Kenyan. She is the eighth black actress to win this award.

     There is something beautiful, I think, in embracing any and all parts of one's identity, no matter how small. Whether you are a hundred per cent one ethnicity or a large mixture, being able to represent multiple nations as an artist is just as noble as representing one's country as an athlete or politician. While as an artista, I may be a tad biased, but I believe that having artists represent your country shows something a bit more. It's an opportunity to say, "Look at this [insert type of art created here] that I have created. It would not have been possible to be who I am without my nation behind me." Yes, the same could be said of any successful person on the planet, but in the arts, perhaps it speaks to our humanistic, creative natures more deeply. 
   The Oscars, while always a star studded night, were especially victorious with the successes of minorities from various awards. Still, there is an extreme disparity between recognition of Hispanic/Latino efforts and African American efforts next to the honors given to Australian, U.S., and English efforts. Let's hope that in the future, the Academy continues to open up new doors, and the Hollywood's of the world can all be celebrated in one night.