As one of the few people of color nominated for an Academy Award this year, “Harriet” star Cynthia Erivo had a few thoughts about the show’s lack of diversity.
“It feels a bit like I’ve got a responsibility to represent all the people of color who have done incredible work this year because I do believe we’ve had some brilliant films made, shows come out this year and brilliant direction and writers,” she told Variety’s Marc Malkin at the SAG Awards. “I want hopefully for this to serve as an example as to why we need to start celebrating people of color as well–really paying attention to how we vote for them and how we vote for the people who are nominated. We need to see some changes.”
Erivo is the only person of color nominated in any acting category at this year’s Academy Awards. In addition to her lead actress nod, she’s also in the original song category for “Stand Up” in “Harriet.”
