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| Lupita Nyong'o and Kumail Nanjiani: 'We're Dreamers.' |
THE ACADEMY AWARDS staged last Sunday (March 4) was so-o-o l-o-o-ng (over three hours) that it would have been easy to miss or forget this video clip featuring artists, including Pakistani/American comedian Kumail Nanjiani, talking about representation in the movies.
A lot of division in our country these days is emanating from "straight, white guys" who are afraid of the demographic changes sweeping over the U.S.
That fear, which could be very tangible for white dudes, is all in their imagination. It doesn't help that the man in the Oval Office is sowing and nurturing that fear.
As Nanjiani says in the video, "Some of my favorite movies are by straight white dudes about straight white dudes," he said. "Now, straight white dudes can watch movies starring me and you relate to that. It's not that hard. I've done it my whole life."
The basic message of the video is that though the face of America is changing, there's really nothing to be afraid of guys. Really!
Speaking of "representation," Nanjiani was apparently the Asian/American of the day. (Director: We need an Asian American. Producer: Call Kumail!)
When it came time for Nanjiani, along with Lupita Wyong'o, to presented the Oscar for Achievement in Production Design, they used their presentation to send a powerful message to the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as Dreamers.
The ceremony took place the day before the DACA program ― which protects undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children― had originally been set to expire.
“Like everyone in this room and everyone watching at home, we are dreamers,” Nyong’o said before announcing the nominees for achievement in production design. “We grew up dreaming of one day working in the movies. Dreams are the foundation of Hollywood, and dreams are the foundation of America.”
Just before the Oscar nominees were announced, Nanjiani interjected, “to all the Dreamers out there, we stand with you.” The crowd erupted in applause.
The actors also poked fun at their own experiences as immigrants, with Nyong’o joking that both of their names are impossible to pronounce and Nanjiani revealing that his real Pakistani name is actually Chris Pine.
Nyong'o, who was born in Mexico City and raised in Kenya and Pakistani/American Nanjiani.
“I’m from Pakistan and Iowa, two places that nobody in Hollywood can find on a map,” Nanijani added.
Trump in September announced he was disbanding DACA, which lets hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants stay in the U.S. and gave Congress six months to come up with a legislative resolution. Congress failed to come up with a bipartisan solution because Trump wanted to tie the Dreamers to passage of his radical reform of immigration laws.
Because of a recent Supreme Court decision, the program continues to exist, but i Dreamers― still remain in limbo over their futures due to Congress’ ongoing debate on immigration reform.
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