Angela Bassett Deserves an Oscar

The Talented Actress is Long Overdue

Here we go again. The Oscars once again drops the ball when it comes to Black and Brown actors. Yes, Angela Bassett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a popular movie, Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Bassett has the honor of being the first Marvel actress nominated for an Oscar. That’s a great honor.

So, where’s the Oscar?

Jaime Lee Curtis has it.

I literally changed the channel when I heard Curtis’ name called for the honor.

Curtis herself seemed shocked when it was announced that she had won Best Supporting Actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Curtis hugged and clapped and scampered her sequin0self to the stage. Her face was lit up with a huge smile. Many in the audience clapped and cheered, giving Curtis a standing ovation.

Well, almost everyone was clapping and cheering.

The camera purposefully panned to Bassett who was resplendent in a purple gown, looking every ounce of the queen that she is. Her face could barely hide her disappointment.

Bassett had a sad look in her eyes. Her face was tight with emotion. Her mouth was fixed in a frown.

Bassett has been on a winning spree during this awards season. She had been told by friends, family, fans, and the media that she was a shoo-in for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Indeed, Bassett was considered the front-runner by many insiders on the day of the Oscars.

So, what happened?

Many people have their own thoughts on why Bassett didn’t score the big prize — the tastes of older Oscar voters, the lack of promotion for Bassett’s nomination, Curtis being the “safe” choice, and of course, racism.

A Black woman hasn’t won an Oscar in a major acting category since Halle Berry’s win in the early 2000s.

Bassett herself hasn’t been nominated since her award-winning turn as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with it?” That was also in the early 2000s.

In fact, Bassett has a body of work that far outshines Curtis’ resume. But Curtis was on the stage in her “I just left a New Year’s Eve party” dress while Bassett sat in her seat looking like a royal flower.

It’s frustrating to see a talented Black actress denied her flowers. The Oscars needs to update its voting rolls. We need fresh blood in the process. The old heads need to go. They can’t see past a strong, Black woman as an Oscar winner.

Bassett will be fine. The sting of losing will wear off. She’ll be in more roles that showcase her talents. Bassett may be nominated again next year.

Let’s hope Oscar voters are smart enough to give Bassett her due.

Regardless, like Michael B. Jordan stated, “Hi Auntie, we love you.”