Marginalised communities achieve landmark moments at Oscars 2022

This year's Academy Awards saw some remarkable wins for diversity as several artists from marginalised communities took home Oscar statues.

Ariana DeBose became the first Afro-Latina Oscar winner for her supporting role as Anita in West Side Story - the same role that gave Rita Moreno the first win by a Latina performer back in 1961.

“You see an openly queer woman of colour Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art, and that is what I believe we’re here to celebrate,” DeBose said during her acceptance speech on Sunday night. “So to anybody who has ever questioned your identity or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us.”

The Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role goes to Ariana DeBose for her exceptional performance in 'West Side Story.' #Oscars @ArianaDeBose pic.twitter.com/ZydSL3LD3m

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022

The Best Supporting Actor category also marked a historic milestone as Troy Kutsor became the first deaf man to win an Oscar. He is now one of only two deaf performers to ever win an Oscar - the other is his CODA costar Marlee Matlin who won for Children of a Lesser God in 1986.

Kutsor thanked all of those in the deaf community who had helped him reach this moment saying: “I really want to thank all of the really wonderful deaf theatre stages where I was allowed and given the opportunity to develop my craft as an actor."

The Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role goes to Troy Kotsur for his spectacular performance in 'CODA.' Congratulations! #Oscars @troykotsur pic.twitter.com/pX3tZGzt2X

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022

It was a big night for CODA. In addition to writer/director Sian Heder’s win for Best Adapted Screenplay, the film also came away with the evening's biggest prize of Best Picture. It is the first Best Picture winner to centre around an ensemble of deaf characters. It also just so happens to be the first film from a streaming service to win the night's biggest award.

Other big moments of the night included Jane Campion becoming the third woman to ever win Best Director and Will Smith becoming the fifth black man to ever win Best Actor.

Read more on the big night here: