My favorite season has come and gone but like always, it has left me with excitement and renewed my sense of purpose. In a night where the best of the best are chosen by their peers, this night is the biggest in cinematic history. I’m talking about the Oscars!
The Oscars have always held a special place in my heart. From the time I can remember Oscar Sunday was the most important day in my life. I’d make snacks, dress up in a fancy gown, invite everyone over (and even have a faux red carpet). It was great!! My parents indulged me because they understood how important this night was to me.
The Academy Awards are about more than just a celebration of the year’s biggest films. They were the wave of the future. In a time where African American’s weren’t even allowed to sit with white people the Academy not only recognized their first African American with an award but allowed for that star to be present. I’m talking of course of Hattie McDaniel.
While it’s true that Ms. McDaniel still sat in the segregated section at the 1940’s award show, she still made history that night by winning. She faced backlash, unfortunately, for the role in which she won. But I believe she responded to her critics best when she said, “Why should I complain about making $700 a week playing a maid? If I didn’t, I’d be making $7 a week being one.”
Another Oscar year that I cherish was the 1999 Oscars when Roberto Benigni won for best Foreign Film and went absolutely nuts! He won for the film “Life Is Beautiful”, a film about a father determined to shield his son from the horrors of being in a concentration camp.
Even the Muppets have had many a cameo at these prestigious awards. Miss Piggy!? Ahhhhh!
Even more recently, the number of African’s really making their mark and getting noticed by Hollywood. A new found favorite is the beautiful and flawless Ms. Lupita Nyong’o. I beam extra hard when I think of her win. It shows me that opportunities for me are endless and that I too can accomplish anything and everything I want with dedication, hard work, and a dream.
I could go on and on about the moments that have meant something to me but we’d be here all night. I just want to close out by quoting the gracious Ms. Nyong’o:
“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s.”

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Xo, B