Related articles and links |  1 of 5

After a year of national tragedy, mourning, and spiritual revival, you would think a glitzy, glamorous, self-congratulatory affair like the Oscars would ring hollow and seem inappropriate. Instead, this year's Academy Awards ceremony offered compelling speeches, moments of genuinely moving drama, and surprising displays of humility and sincerity. Humility? At the Oscars?

"This moment is so much bigger than me," said Halle Berry as she received her Best Actress Oscar on Sunday night. It was hard not to be moved as Berry—the first African American actress ever to win the award—wept with joy. She won for an emotional and powerful performance in Monster's Ball, playing a grief-stricken woman coping with the execution of her Death Row husband, struggling to raise a troubled son, working hard to pay the bills, and enduring the racism of the South. While her performance in the film was certainly Oscar-worthy, her performance on the Oscar stage will stand as a more memorable and meaningful moment in the history of entertainment. In an industry so fraught with dirty politics, it was wonderful to see something go so right.

As Berry fought to regain her composure, she named a few of the many wonderful African American actresses who have gone before her and were never properly acknowledged for their excellent work—from Dorothy Dandridge and Diahann Carroll to actresses working today like Angela Bassett and Jada Pinkett Smith—actresses whom Berry said were standing beside her in that moment.

Meawhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, criticized for so many years for neglecting to honor black actors, cast off the burden of its mistakes and demonstrated that, yes, the times have changed. Not only did it choose to honor Berry, but they gave Best Actor to a black actor—Denzel Washington, his second Oscar, but first for a leading role. They also handed a career achievement award to another black actor—Sidney Poitier. And the whole affair was hosted by African American comedian Whoopi Goldberg. These honors are evidence of a gradual revolution in the U.S. entertainment industry. As race becomes less a factor and new role models emerge, a new generation of young actors may be inspired by just how much is now clearly possible.

Anyone who still denies the power of big-screen heroes to inspire young viewers, must not be paying attention. That influence was plainly evident in the acceptance speech of Denzel Washington. As he accepted his Best Actor award for his role in Training Day, only the second black man to win the award, he gestured to actor Sidney Poitier and said, "I've always been chasing you, Sidney."

Poitier himself spoke of being inspired by industry role models. Until now, he was the only African American actor who had won an Oscar for a leading role (Lilies of the Field in 1963). But at this ceremony, he offered a powerful speech motivated by gratitude for "visionary American filmmakers." He also thanked those who preceded him in the fight to win equality and respect for blacks in America. "I accept this award in memory of all the African American actors and actresses who went before me in the difficult years," he said, "on whose shoulders I was privileged to stand to see where I might go."

The evening was not just about race issues. There was the usual parade of award presentations and acceptance speeches—you can see the complete list at www.oscar.com. And there were other unusually significant moments during the evening—some were profound and some were profoundly awkward.

next page... |  1 of 5

share this page

March (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46