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AWARDS NIGHT!
Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, winners of the award for best original score for “Soul,” pose in the press room at the Oscars on April
25. Chris Pizzello/Pool via REUTERS
Colorful Oscar awards honor ‘Soul,’ ‘Strangers’
Caribbean Life, APR. 30-MAY 6, 2021 25
By Vinette K. Pryce
Hollywood’s most glamorous
night marked the 93rd
annual Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences’
Awards and as usual surprised
television viewers by
showcasing the most rewarding
ceremony to honor the
contributions of people of
color in films.
A far departure from 2015
and 2016 when 20 of the acting
nominees were white and
#OscarsSoWhite became a
viral hashtag, this year nine
of 20 acting nominees named
people of color.
Inspired by the tragedy of
George Floyd’s murder, “Too
Distant Strangers” emerged
as the winner of the Best Live
Action Short film.
The 32-minute film
addresses police brutality and
provides food for thought on
social issues.
Released on Netflix, the
film was co-directed by Trayvon
Free and Martin Desmond
Roe.
On Hollywood’s biggest
night, fashionistas spared no
expense flaunting jewelry,
fabric, and the excesses from
success.
Director Free and his partner
were among the extravagant
spenders. They wore
matching Dolce & Gabbana
black suits lined by gold, silk
embroidered with the names
of victims of police brutality
— among them Duante
Wright, Tamir Rice, and
George Floyd.
“Soul” beat all competition
in the Best Animated
Feature category. The film
won a second statuette for
Best Original Score.
Jon Batiste, keyboardist
and musical director of The
Stephen Colbert “Late Show”
picked up a trophy for his
winning effort in the film.
He is only the second Black
composer to win the honor.
In 1986, Herbie Hancock
was first to claim the prize for
his jazz composition in the
film “Round Midnight.”
Tyler Perry aslo received a
special Humanitarian award
for the long list of charitable
acts he has delivered
throughout the COVID-19
pandemic.
Additionally, British actor
Daniel Kaluuya won in the
Best Supporting category for
his performance in “Judas and
the Black Messiah,” marking
just some of the people of
color to win that night.
/ENTERTAINMENT
