And The Oscar Goes To...
“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid." - Lupita Nyong'o
I hope you’ve already heard the good news about Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress, but if you haven’t because the rock you’ve been hiding under is weighing you down, I’m here to tell you that Lupi (my nickname for Lupita) made history last night as the 6th Black woman to ever win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the Academy’s 86 years of celebrating actors. Her first gig out of school, this Yale graduate (who WOW'd in a blue dress she designed with the people over at Prada btw) proved that when you want something bad enough, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you want can be yours if you go out there and make it happen.
I was hopeful that the “12 Years A Slave” star would come out on top, but considering the number of Black women slighted in the past in spite of their over the moon performances, I didn’t know what to expect. Nominated alongside some of my favorite A-listers, like Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence for the win, I sat up in bed rooting for Lupita--eyes bulging, jaw dropped and not a word uttered as I just stared at the television screen, waiting to witness this monumental moment in history. I quit all of my rapid tweeting and ignored whatever question my brother was asking me. The only thing I was praying for was that they called Lupi’s name. I was so focused I forgot who even announced it, but as soon as he/she/they said “And the Oscar goes to...Lupita Nyong’o" I lost all sense. I screamed for 3 minutes (not during her speech, but intermittently). My parents were in the next room but they were watching too so they knew why I acted like I had just lost my mind.
I am overjoyed for Lupita's win. I feel like Black beauties are on the map! (Though we've always been poppin'.) I can't wait to see what she does next. Last night was a great night in Hollywood history.
Congratulations to the director, Steve McQueen and the entire cast of "12 Years A Slave" for winning best motion picture as well! Shout out to Black excellence.
List of Black women who preceded Lupita as BSA Winners
Hattie McDaniel - Gone with the Wind (1940)
Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost (1991)
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls (2006)
Mo’Nique - Precious (2009)
Octavia Spencer - The Help (2011)
