Democracia em vertigem/The edge of democracy, de Petra Costa.

BAFTA 2020: Joaquin Phoenix Addresses ‘Systemic Racism’ In Acceptance Speech

by Sheena ScottContributor 

Hollywood & Entertainment

I write about cinema in Europe.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheenascott/2020/02/03/bafta-2020-joaquin-phoenix-addresses-systemic-racism-in-acceptance-speech/#6bde07b14092 

Following the controversy over the lack of diversity after the announcement of the nominations, which led to #BAFTASSoWhite trending online, it seemed at first that the Award Ceremony was trying to address the issue. It was, however, done rather awkwardly, with Graham Norton’s joke about how white all the nominees are falling flat.

Toward the end of the ceremony, as Joaquin Phoenix accepted his award for best leading actor for his performance in Joker, he addressed the issue full on. Here is Phoenix’s full acceptance speech:

“‘I feel very honored and privileged to be here tonight and BAFTA has always been very supportive of my career, and I am deeply appreciative. But I also have to say that I also feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege.

I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you are not welcome here. I think that is a message that we are sending to people who have contributed so much to our medium, our industry in ways that we benefit from. I don’t think anybody wants a handout or a preferential treatment, although that is what we give ourselves every year. I think that people just want to be acknowledge, appreciated and respected for their work. 

This is not a self-righteous condemnation, because I am ashamed to say that I am part of the problem, I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive. But I think it is more than just having sets that are multicultural. I think that we have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created, perpetuated and benefited from a system of oppression to be the one to dismantle it. So that’s on us.”