Spike Lee Calls for Greater Diversity in Hollywood

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently honored director Spike Lee with an Honorary Academy Award for his 30-year film career, and in typical Lee fashion, he used the moment to call for greater diversity in Hollywood.

“It’s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than to be the head of a studio,” Lee said to an applauding audience.

Lee’s remarks come as the film academy continues to face criticism for its failure to nominate any black actors or directors during the 2015 Oscars.

The Academy is seeking to address diversity, with its president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, announcing the launch of a program called “A2020,” which is designed to broaden the demographics of the group’s membership, staff and governing board.

Lee, the director of Chi-raq, an upcoming movie about gun violence in Chicago brought in the occasion with this family and three actors who have made his movies famous – Wesley Snipes, Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

During his speech, Lee mentioned that his career started with a student Academy Award for his thesis film, “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.” He was later nominated for two competitive Oscars, one in 1990, for writing “Do the Right Thing,” and another in 1998, as producer of the documentary “4 Little Girls,” with Samuel D. Pollard.

At 58, Lee is one of the youngest to receive the honorary Academy Award.