In 1996, I was lamenting the dearth of minorities, particularly Blacks, in entertainment.
This was obviously pre-Forest Whittaker in "The Last King of Scotland". It was a decade before Halle Berry's historic nod, or Jennifer "Dreamgirls" Hudson.
It was two lifetimes before rap artists 3-6-Mafia made pimpin' a little easier.
Of the 166 Academy Award nominees that year, only one was African American. Sure, Whoopi Goldberg presided over the festivities, with Qunicy Jones serving as co-producer. The disturbing message sent in 1996, however, was as clear: Whites only.
What a difference a decade can make!
This year's 79th Annual awards show was the most globally diverse in the history of the Academy. The international broadcast showcased 20 outstanding nominees in the acting categories alone.
Of them, five were of African descent. Overall, blacks fared well, receiving a total of eight nominations and three wins. Latino filmmakers brought their A-game as well, garnering 16 nominations and four wins, three for Guillermo Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" and one for Gustavo Santaolalla in the best music score category for "Babel." With an acting nomination for a descendant of Japan and a best short documentary win for Chinese director Ruby Yang, Asians did not go home empty-handed either.
But my favorite part of the ceremony came in the opening monologue. That's when quirky host Ellen DeGeneres stated, "If there were no blacks, Jews, or gays, there would be no Oscars."
Of course she was being sarcastic - the part about blacks, that is.
Ten years ago, fewer than 150 - or 3.9 percent - of the then 5,043 Academy members who nominate and choose Oscar winners were black. Only 2.3 percent of the Directors Guild membership was black.
A mere 2.6 percent of the Writers Guild was African-American. Blacks accounted for less than 2 percent of the 4000-member union of set decorators and property masters. For other minorities, the numbers were equally disgraceful.
In 2007, those stats really haven't budged much despite the fact that in the U.S alone, African-Americans make up 25 - 30 percent of the movie going audience.
You would think Hollywood would have recognized by now that mining for greater minority participation could dramatically increase its bottom line. A highly sought-after export, the film and television industries represent high-yielding commodities.
Actor Edward James Olmos' assertion that, "All of the Oscar-nominated pictures put together give lots of hope to diversity in general...", however, means nothing unless we get the cameras rolling in Africa, Latin America, China and "other parts" of America.
If Hollywood is a place where money doesn't talk but screams, add my voice to the chorus on set shouting "And... ACTION!"