Despite more females being behind the cameras in the entertainment industry, the academy awards are still unwilling to showcase outstanding female directors.

America is getting closer to the Oscars.

On January 22, the Oscar nominations were announced and the lack of diversity among the nominees is still astonishing.

Since 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed its voting requirements to try and promote diversity among the categories.

I believe that even with the changed voting rights nothing has been done.

Women and other minorities are been left out the the respected category they belong to.

For the 2020 Oscars, only two of the 20 actors and actresses nominated were people of color, and no female director was nominated in the directing category, according to CNBC.

The movie Little Women received six other nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture, but the movie’s director, Greta Gerwig, did not receive a nomination for Best Director.

The only black actor to receive a nomination was Cynthia Erivo for Best Actress in Harriet.

“It’s not enough that I’m the only one; it just isn’t, far too much work was done this year by incredible women and men of color that should be celebrated,” Erivo told The New York Times.

Not only has Erivo spoken up about the lack of diversity over the years, many others have.

At the 2018 Golden Globes, Natalie Portman presented the nominees for best director. 

Upon naming the nominees she presented them as: “And here are the all-male nominees.” 

The lack of diversity hasn’t only been seen in the Oscars, but in many other award shows as well such as the Golden Globes.

I believe that the lack of diversity is due to the lack of diversity in the Academy membership.

If an Academy made up of all white males is voting about who gets nominated, of course the nominees will not be women or minorities.

The lack of evolution in people’s ideals are causing major set backs in award shows.

I believe a change in the Academy will help fix the lack of diversity.

If the Academy would be made up of women, minorities, and males, the nominees would be much broader.   

Women and other minorities deserve to be recognized for their hard work.

The Academy need to change and recognize their actions.