Jackson Protests Oscars, Claims Moral Victory

The mention of the Rev. Jesse Jackson got the Academy Awards off to a rousing start Monday night.

Although the reference came in the form of an unflattering joke, and the audience seemed to be laughing at the civil rights leader, Jackson insisted it was he who was celebrating by evening’s end.

Host Whoopi Goldberg made fun of Jackson’s protest of the Oscars and the almost total absence of black Academy Award nominees. Jackson had asked attendees of the ceremony to wear rainbow-colored ribbons to show solidarity with his targeting of Hollywood for what he called its lack of racial diversity.

Goldberg made her comment while Jackson was across town marching in front of Los Angeles’ ABC affiliate TV station, which was broadcasting the ceremonies locally.

Although Jackson’s weeklong campaign in Los Angeles gave encouragement to a coalition of groups composed of ethnic actors, writers and technicians who said they had been denied access to Hollywood, those at the Oscars seemed to regard the crusade far less seriously.

Quincy Jones, who produced the Oscar telecast and appeared as a presenter, was one of the few seen wearing a rainbow ribbon.But by Oscar’s conclusion, Jackson was far from displeased.

“Tonight was a moral victory, and the consciousness was raised to a new level,” Jackson said. “These were political statements that used comedy to mask tragedy. These jokes keep the issue alive and give it more focus. Unwittingly, these people went to the front of our struggle. It gave attention to our concerns.”