The United States of America, the self-proclaimed, “melting pot” of the world, is one of the most diverse countries in more ways than one. The country is a medley of cultures, sub-cultures, ethnicities, religious beliefs and appearances. It’s rare to go any single place, and find that everyone is of the same ethnicity. Yet, in a country compiled so nothing but a heterogeneous blend of people, one would believe that naturally, every aspect of the country would reflect the apparent variance.
For example, in the media industry, there has been a call to action by many for diversification. Recently Spike Lee, an African American director made a speech about doing so at the Governors Awards this past week. Lee is known for creating films, which dive in to the dark depths of racism, not solely amongst different races, but within the cultures themselves, also. He tries to relay messages thru his films, demonstrating what is wrong with cultures and sub cultures. He stated during his speech that there just isn’t enough diversity in his industry, “By the year 2043, white Americans are going to be a minority in this country. And all you people out there in the position of hiring, you better get smart. Because your workforce should reflect what this country looks like,” he said.
“It’s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than to be the head of a studio,” Lee also added. Lee touched among the same topic as the president of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who announced a new diversity initiative that evening called A2020. Isaacs plans on getting more women of color to join the academy, that as of 2013, 93 percent white and 76 percent male.