Oscar nominees barely beyond the pale

Observers were quick to point out that the 87th Academy Award nominees lack racial diversity. All the finalists in the best actor and supporting actor categories are white. “Birdman” director Alejandro Inarritu is the only non-white nominee in the best director category.

The lack of diversity prompted the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite on Twitter. An L.A. Times study in 2012 revealed that 94% of Oscar voters who choose the nominees were white and 77% male. Blacks represented 2% of the academy while Latinos were even fewer.