Are the #OscarsSoWhite? The remarkable Academy Award wins by people of colour

The biggest stars in Hollywood dressed to the nines, hisses of semi-awkward laughter, and beaming stage lights. Nearly 100 years of Academy Awards history, yet there’s still a lack of BIPOC representation.

For decades, the Oscars have faced criticism for a lack of nominations and wins for actors, directors, and filmmakers of colour. In 2015, the conversation exploded when activist April Reign started the #OscarsSoWhite movement.

The hashtag called attention to the lack of diversity in Hollywood and pushed the film industry to reflect who is recognized on its biggest stage. In 2015, the 87th Academy Awards had nominated only white actors for its four acting categories.

Since then, many argue that Hollywood has begun acknowledging the issue. In recent years, there have been visible steps towards change. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable Academy Award wins by people of colour in the last several years.

Micheal B. Jordan for Sinners

Starting with a more recent moment, Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his chilling dual performance in Sinners. Jordan played twins Smoke and Stack Moore, who return home to the Jim Crow South and open a juke joint.

This is Jordan’s first Oscar nomination and win — and he made sure the moment carried weight.

Jordan is just the sixth Black man to win Best Actor, behind Sidney Poitier’s win in 1963 at the 36th Academy Awards, Denzel Washington for Training Day, Jamie Foxx for Ray, Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland, and, most recently, Will Smith’s 2022 win for King Richard. Only one Black woman has won Best Actress in Oscars history — Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball in 2002. 

During his speech, Jordan honoured the Black actors who came before him, acknowledging the legacy that made his win possible.

Barry Jenkins for Moonlight

Anyone who keeps up with the Oscars, or simply loves film, knows that 2017 belonged to Moonlight. The infamous Best Picture mixup at the 89th Academy Awards originally awarded La La Land the sought-after prize, but it ended up in Moonlight director Barry Jenkins’ hands two minutes later. Jenkins also took home Best Adapted Screenplay.

The win was historic. Moonlight hit many firsts for the Oscars — the first all-Black cast and first LGBTQIA+-centred story to win Best Picture. It was also the lowest-budgeted film to win Best Picture in Academy Awards history, having cost $1.5 million.

Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali also won Best Supporting Actor, making history as the first Muslim actor to receive an Oscar. Two years later, Ali won the same award for Green Book.

For many viewers, Moonlight’s win felt revolutionary. The world won that night. 

Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once dominated at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023, taking home seven awards out of its 11 nominations. Two of the most memorable moments of the night came from Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan.

Yeoh became the first Asian woman and second woman of colour to win Best Actress, delivering a speech that touched hearts worldwide. She opened with the powerful line, “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities.”

Quan won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Waymond Wang. Although not a first for the Oscars, Quan was the first Asian man to win an Actor Award (née SAG Award) for acting.

His Oscars acceptance speech was just as moving as Yeoh’s. Reflecting on his long journey in Hollywood, Quan said, “They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This is the American dream.” His words quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

These wins — and many more — show that change is happening, slowly but visibly. When the Oscars celebrate a wider range of voices, the stories on screen begin to look a lot more like the world watching them.