Following multiple years of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited a record 683 new members to join.
The new round of invitations was handed out as part of the Academy’s effort to increase diversity in its ranks.
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, of the 683 possible members, 46 percent were women and 41 percent were people of color. If all individuals accept their invitations, the demographic of the Academy could shift from 75 percent male to 73 percent and from 95 percent white to 89 percent.
While the difference in numbers seems small when written out, it’s nice to see the Academy taking proper steps to maintain a more diverse organization. It’s important to note that the members of the Academy are the ones who vote for the Oscars, meaning they ultimately decide who gets nominated and who wins. If the organization is more diverse, the hope is that diversity will be visible in the list of nominees and winners.
