You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: the Justice For Flint livestream alternative to the Oscars.

April Reign’s #OscarsSoWhite hashtag criticism is getting a reboot this year. All 20 acting nominees are, AGAIN, white. This year’s awards are even more egregious. The movie “Straight Outta Compton” received a lot of industry support at SAG-AFTRA as well as a Best Picture nomination from the Producers Guild — but its only Oscar nod went to the white screenwriters for Best Original Screenplay. “Creed” has been praised basically everywhere also only received one nomination: Sylvester Stallone for Best Supporting Actor.

In response, the Oscar backlash has gone well beyond Twitter. While they aren’t exactly calling it a boycott, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith aren’t attending amidst the demand to diversify nominees and the industry in general. In a country where people’s exposure to those outside their communities and understanding of what’s “normal” and “acceptable” often comes from the entertainment industry, it’s important to support the efforts to fund and produce films that better represent our population and experiences.

So, this year, instead of watching the Oscars, tune in to the #JusticeForFlint fundraiser taking place in Flint, Michigan and live streamed at Revolt.TV. “Creed" director and co-writer Ryan Coogler, Ava Duvernay, director of “Selma,” singer Janelle Monáe, Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams and others are putting on this guaranteed-to-be-entertaining, free event presented by Coogler’s org Blackout for Human Rights. You can get the full line-up at the BlackOutForHumanRights Tumblr, then tune in at 5pmEST Sunday night.

During the broadcast you can text JUSTICE to 83224 to donate to the victims of the ongoing Flint Water Crisis and follow the #JusticeForFlint hashtag. Exclusive event announcement rights were given to Buzzfeed; so in addition to posting the Black Out For Human Rights Tumblr page on social media, Buzzfeed’s article "The Director Of “Creed” Is Throwing A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night” has all the correct info.

For those who listen to This Week in Blackness, but may be behind on podcasts, they’ve nixed their Oscar broadcast so as not to draw anyone away from the #JusticeForFlint fundraiser.

TAKE ACTION:

#JusticeForFlint from Blackout for Human Rights

Additional Activism/Resources:

"How to help people hurt by the poisoned water in Flint” via Mashable

Sources/further reading:

”Meet April Reign, the Black Woman Behind #OscarsSoWhite"

"The 17 Biggest Surprises Of This Year’s Oscar Nominations — #OscarsSoWhiteTheSequel” via Buzzfeed

"These 10 Actors, Directors & Executives Can Reverse #OscarsSoWhite” at RevoltTV

"Creed Is The Rocky Film 21st-Century America Needs” at The Establishment

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #994 "Who gets a seat at the table (Culture)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich