Contacts: Michele Setteducato, 732-614-3818, mich12780@gmail.com
CJ Frogozo, 310 570 2622, christine.frogozo@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA — Today Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) announced a series of changes to the Academy’s process and configuration in wake of massive outrage from activists, artists, Black Twitter and members of the Hollywood community.

These changes are slated to include: Removing anyone who has worked in the industry in the last 10 years; Adding a person of color to each of the different committees; Adding 3 new board members of color; Conducting a worldwide search for members and; Adding 300 new members of color over the next four years.

Statement from Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color Of Change:

“Last year over 51,000 Color Of Change members called for a major overhaul of the Academy membership process and the release of accurate diversity numbers. Since then, we have continued to work with a number of artists and those in the industry in order to ensure that we can move towards a collective vision that promotes a standard for Hollywood that is truly representative of the diversity and intricacies of its moviegoers.

“We applaud the board for this time acting expediently to fix a problem 100 plus years in the making- this is one important step forward but this can not be the end. It is critical to note that this isn’t about “seeking validation,” but rejecting a discriminatory system that sends a message to far too many that they are unwelcome. At a time when our news media continues to make clear how little the lives of Black Americans matter, and our rights continue to be rolled back on a number of fronts — from voting rights to our right to organize — it is especially important we are at the center of our own narratives, and that our stories receive the wide release and support that they deserve.

“These awards matter, with awards recognition comes increased financial and creative opportunities for artists and those they employ.  It’s also about having the power to confront media narratives and negative depictions of our communities that irrefutably shape how we’re perceived in our society. Research continues to show that negative perceptions of Black and Brown men and women or the erasure of people of color from movies and television programs translate into greater chances of us being shot by the police, diminished attention from doctors, and less consideration when applying for jobs, loans and educational opportunities.

“But let’s not forget that this is about a completely flawed system from top to bottom- from the lack of diversity of critics who determine which movies get Oscar buzz, to discrimination in casting and the whitewashing of historical figures, to the underfunding of projects helmed by people of color. Studios, guilds and agencies alike have a lot of work to do, the onus can’t strictly be on AMPAS or Boone Isaacs to create change. Hollywood is a reflection of power structures in our country and we still have to take more steps to ensure we see the kind of real change that creates a better reality for our people both in and out of the industry.  We want to see actions that ensure we have a consistent pipeline of people of color in internships, middle management, and at the executive level across the industry.

“We would like to thank Cheryl Boone Isaacs in her leadership and look forward to continuing a public dialogue about how best to move forward.”

Color Of Change has led successful campaigns pressuring SNL to hire Black writers, getting the show COPS cancelled on FOX, and pressuring Bravo to cut racist stereotypes from their “reality” TV shows. Color Of Change has also hosted a series of salons with writers and content producers in Hollywood and recently opened a Hollywood Hub in order to ensure a physical presence in order to put constant pressure on key Hollywood stakeholders, establish a presence inside writers’ rooms, and connect Hollywood stakeholders with research experts and racial justice leaders, and uplift and support the work of people of color in the industry.

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With more than 1 million members, ColorOfChange is the country’s largest online civil rights organization</p