Spike Lee uses award acceptance speech to tell Hollywood to “get smart” about diversity

Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds also received honorary awards at the event, which was populated by some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, Michael Caine and Jane Fonda. Lee’s films have been nominated for Oscars in the past, including a writing nomination for 1990’s Do The Right Thing and a nomination for the documentary 4 Little Girls in 1998. Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Wesley Snipes introduced their friend Spike Lee, who used his turn at the podium to express his concerns about diversity.
Lee said when he goes through Hollywood offices, there are only white faces, and the only person of color is the man checking the name at the door. “This industry is so behind, it’s ridiculous,” he said, adding that it’s apparently easier for a black person to become president of the U.S. than the head of a studio or TV network.
Lee’s 15 minute speech reminded hundreds of Hollywood heavy-hitters about their failure at diversity, warning, “You better get smart” about making films that represent the population — because by 2043, Caucasians are going to be the minority in the U.S.
The director wasn’t the only person to speak to the lack diversity in Hollywood, as Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs opened the evening by also urging Hollywood to speed its journey towards racial equality and representation. “Words are not enough; we need to take action,” Boone declared. She said the Academy has begun a program called A20/20, a five-year plan to get executives to think outside the traditional thinking when hiring, mentoring and encouraging new talent.