Of this year's 20 Oscar acting nominees, five are black, two are Latina and one is Japanese. But Yoji Cole, DiversityInc's Los Angeles bureau chief, wrote that he wasn't ecstatic about the racial/ethnic diversity in this year's Oscars (See also: At the Oscars: I'm Not Celebrating Racial Diversity Just Yet).

Our readers had a lot to say about this. Here's a sampling of the responses DiversityInc received:

The article about the Oscars is right on time. We need to stop celebrating every time we hear that a minority is getting a nomination. We still seem to have people who are selected as the "token" to try to appease the masses.  We need to see Americans of color get the awards. Just like in sports we celebrate that minority person who made the white man or woman look good. Thanks for the article.

—Bobbi Hague 

OK, I just had to comment on this article. I am all for diversity in the workplace and in my life in general. I treat and respect my fellow human as equals. I have to ask you and DiversityInc, in general, will you ever be happy about anything? I stayed silent when a Latino American and an African American were finalists on "Dancing with the Stars." I guess you don't bother commenting on any good that happens in this world and like the rest of American media only focus on the bad or how bad you can make it. I thought for once you might mention something nice for a change or at least write one story about it. I like to go to movies and that includes documentaries and short films. I also understand enough about Hollywood to know it is never fair and reasonable. You are talking about a profession that has and always will judge an actor by his height, weight, eye color, etc.

Finally, it is another profession that honors films who obtain the most press or can draw the big names. Face it, most people, and I am not one of them, only go to movies that have a good star lineup in the cast. One of the smaller films that should have been nominated but was not and does not have near the amount of press associated with it is "SweetLand." Oh, but you would scoff at that movie because it has a Caucasian cast and without knowing a thing about its message (treating someone of a different nationality and mother tongue as an outsider for their entire life). 

So, what will make you happy? You mention Spike Lee and John Singleton. OK, name one movie they have DIRECTED in the last five years that is worthy of nominating. Spike Lee has been working on a lot of television and he produces and writes many things as well. John Singleton does not appear to have directed much in the past five years. OK, now look at Martin Scorsese. He has been nominated eight times and this may just be his year. But like so many actors, directors and other artists, if he wins it is to award him for a lot more than just this movie. Steven Spielberg did not receive an Oscar for any of the movies that most people know him for and they are still some of the top money-making movies of all time.

Oh, and one more point. Your article talks about other nationalities receiving awards.  OK, think about how many British citizens have received Oscars. How do you think that makes American actors and artists in general feel? Helen Mirren has already received awards for a TV and a film performance. 

So, I pose the question to you again ... Will you ever be happy or satisfied? The general public does not have an actual vote in this process, though ticket sales probably don't hurt. 

Is Hollywood on the same planet or thought plane as the rest of the United States?  Just ask some of the artists and they will be quick to tell you no.

—Eileen Dunlap
 

Until reading this article, I was probably one of many who started to celebrate too soon. While I don't want to take anything away from the black and Latino actors who have been nominated (they deserve it), I agree that we cannot settle for this level of recognition when there are so many talented minorities behind the scenes.

Thanks for helping me see the bigger picture.

—Nicole C. Grant

I think that the writer makes a very valid point. The black directors, writers and producers are NOT getting their just due, and they are just as talented—if not more so—than their white counterparts. The problem, as I see it, is this: White America consistently and repeatedly LUMPS US ALL TOGETHER. As far as they are concerned, if ONE of us gets ANYTHING, that's supposed to COVER THE WHOLE DAMN RACE ... they deal with their own racism (or lack thereof) in the same way. If they don't use the "N-WORD," they figure that absolves them of being labeled as racist. They hand out a few awards, and that's supposed to demonstrate some sort of "progress." I think not. DIVERSITY IS STILL A LONG WAYS AWAY IN HOLLYWOOD. Period.

—Ellen Adams

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