Extra Credit

The Oscars

There has been a lot of talk about race in terms of the Oscars this year. One thing I found particularly inspiring and interesting was that the film 12 Years a Slave won best picture. The profound movie 12 Years a Slave is about Solomon Northup who is a free black man from upstate New York, but is abducted, sold into slavery and forced to work plantations in the state of Louisiana. As of March 7, 2014, 12 Years a Slave had earned $141,417,000, including $51,517,000 in the United States. Not only was 12 Years a Slave a very intense, thought-provoking film that in my opinion deserved the award for best picture, but Lupita Nyong'o who starred in it made history by winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Lupita Nyong'o has gotten a lot of attention in the media lately and especially in the black community for her inspirational accomplishments. Lupita Nyong'on identifies as Mexican-Kenyan because she was born in Mexico, to Kenyan parents. Lupita stands out amongst other women in Hollywood for her very dark skin and short afro. Many people in the black community (including myself) believe she’s a huge inspiration to young black girls that look like her but often don’t view themselves as beautiful. Not only is Nyong’on gorgeous, but she has stood out award show after award show for her fashion sense. Nyong’on is looked at as a global fashion icon. For instance, her Cinderella blue Prada gown at the Oscars made such a statement and pictures of it spread on the internet like wildfire. Lots of people (especially people of color) are very excited to see a dark-skinned black woman become a touchstone of glamour in our culture, which usually defines beauty as whiteness. In her speech at the Essence awards, Nyong'o spoke on how she had prayed to God before to lighten her skin. Now she accepts herself and has been motivation for girls and women all over the world. I appreciate Nyong’o because as a black women with very fair skin, I have seen and heard my dark skin sister’s be talked down upon time after time again. My mother raised me to acknowledge the beauty of all skin tones, and I’m glad to see changes are being made in Hollywood. Lots of problems as well as solutions with race, especially when it comes to women of color, stem from the media. Beauty in Hollywood has always seemed to be white-washed, but I see new doors opening. Beauty is being redefined and this excites me!

(picture: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/lupita-nyongo-won-more-than-just-an-oscar-she-won-hearts-20140305-346mr.html)