Actress Jada Pinkett Smith decided to upload a video via Facebook on Martin Luther King Jr. Day stating she will boycott this year's Oscar Awards. The Los Angeles Times pointed out that the Academy has been only nominating white artists for two consecutive years now under the 4 categories of actors and actresses.
Dressed in a silk red top and denim jeans, Jada was on a couch explaining why she decided to boycott the institution. She opened the video with a question to her viewers, making them think about how this generation has changed so much that one cannot be begging for love and acknowledgement or respect of any group. The "Gotham" star also said in an encouraging tone her thoughts about the matter saying, "maybe it's time that we recognize that if we love and respect and acknowledge ourselves in a way that we are asking others to do, that that is the place of true power?"
The highlight of her two-minute video was when she said, "Here's what I do know. Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity, and diminishes power, and we are a dignified people, and we are powerful, and let's not forget it." She is clearly sending a strong message to the African-American community to stand up and not forget how powerful they are.
Chris Rock will be hosting this year's Oscar's and Jada sent her congratulations to him. However, she also said she won't be there nor will she be watching the show.
Jada is getting a lot of support from the comments on her video upload, but one actress doesn't agree with her and she used to be a part of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Janet Hubert (Aunt Vivian #1) uploaded a video in reaction to what Jada posted.
She told the Smiths practically get over themselves because they too are part of Hollywood and they too are part of the system that they think is unfair. She told them to "get real."
