Why Ownership of #BlackMediaMatters More to Black America Than the Oscar Awards

[Commentary] The discussion of diversity in Hollywood (CA), or the lack thereof has been at a fever pitch since the nominations for the Oscar awards were released. This announcement by the Academy Awards was followed with videos made by several celebrities announcing boycotts, and attempts by the Academy to regain their trust with a quickly enacted change in the awards voting policy. Yet, the real discourse on diversity and inclusion does not center on who is in front of the camera, nor who is even directing its lens. The conversation should be focused on who owns the camera, and the content it's used to create.

#BlackMediaMatters and it is inside of ownership where you see the starkest disparity between blacks and whites across all major platforms, film, television, print and digital. While the nomination for an Oscar serves as a symbol of diversity, it does little to address the lasting effects that the disenfranchisement of blacks in media has had on content, employment and wealth for Black Americans.

[Antonio Moore is an attorney and producer of the documentary "Freeway: Crack in The System"]