Octavia Spencer Wins Best Supporting Actress: A Step Forward or Backward?
Octavia Spencer won an Oscar last night for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal as a maid in the critically acclaimed movie, The Help. While many praised Octavia Spencer for her win, many have questioned if her win is a step forward, or a step back. Co-star Viola Davis lost the coveted Best Actress Oscar to Meryl Streep.
Octavia is the fifth black actress to win a Best Supporting Actress. She joins Hattie McDaniel, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, and Mo 'Nique. Halle Berry has won for Best Actress.
I'm more concerned about the roles that blacks win for. Black Hollywood feels like any win, no matter what the role, is a step up or another door opened for blacks. When Hattie McDaniel won back in 1940 for her role as a maid in Gone With The Wind, she was not even able to attend the actual Oscars ceremony. She was the first black to win for either men or women. Now I wonder, 72 years later, her spirit shines through Octavia Spencer. I even tweeted last night that Octavia Spencer was the 2012 version of Hattie McDaniel.
I have not seen the actual movie, The Help, yet. I could barely get through the book so I was not moved to see the movie. I'm the type that likes to read the novel first before seeing the movie. With that said, I cannot judge to say whether their roles were Oscar worthy, but I do find it interesting that the only times Blacks are nominated/win are for roles that do not show us in the best light, has blacks playing the "passive guardian angel" to whites in movies, or for movies written/directed by whites.
After seeing Octavia Spencer's acceptance speech I was indeed moved, along with many others, and was generally happy for her. But I won't lie and say it wasn't bittersweet.
These are my thoughts. What are yours?
Octavia is the fifth black actress to win a Best Supporting Actress. She joins Hattie McDaniel, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, and Mo 'Nique. Halle Berry has won for Best Actress.
I'm more concerned about the roles that blacks win for. Black Hollywood feels like any win, no matter what the role, is a step up or another door opened for blacks. When Hattie McDaniel won back in 1940 for her role as a maid in Gone With The Wind, she was not even able to attend the actual Oscars ceremony. She was the first black to win for either men or women. Now I wonder, 72 years later, her spirit shines through Octavia Spencer. I even tweeted last night that Octavia Spencer was the 2012 version of Hattie McDaniel.
I have not seen the actual movie, The Help, yet. I could barely get through the book so I was not moved to see the movie. I'm the type that likes to read the novel first before seeing the movie. With that said, I cannot judge to say whether their roles were Oscar worthy, but I do find it interesting that the only times Blacks are nominated/win are for roles that do not show us in the best light, has blacks playing the "passive guardian angel" to whites in movies, or for movies written/directed by whites.
After seeing Octavia Spencer's acceptance speech I was indeed moved, along with many others, and was generally happy for her. But I won't lie and say it wasn't bittersweet.
These are my thoughts. What are yours?
