Actors of color are coming together to boycott Hollywood’s most prestigious award show, The Academy Awards, nicknamed the Oscars. An award show established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to celebrate excellence in the making of motion pictures

Actors, directors and writers have not been recognized accordingly by the Academy over the years. However, entertainment industry members of color have grown to become particularly tired of not being included this year. Jada Pinkett Smith created the #OscarsSoWhite boycott when she posted a video explaining that she would not be attending or viewing the Academy awards this year because of the deliberate exclusion of artists of color in their nominations. Although some people question her motives since her husband was not nominated for this year’s blockbuster “Concussion.” Spike Lee also followed in Smith’s footsteps and will be boycotting the awards show, despite being awarded a lifetime achievement award.

Junior theater major Benedict Fox said, “I think it is awesome that actors of color are standing up for themselves and demanding inclusion. I will be boycotting this year for racial diversity in solidarity.”

This is the second year of the Oscars to not include talent of color. A trend was started on social media using the hashtag “Oscars so white.” Films such as the biopic “Straight Outta Compton” and “Beasts of No Nations” have been overlooked by the Academy. Despite the stirrup in controversy, comedian Chris Rock will be hosting the 88th Academy Awards. Rock referred to the awards show via Twitter as “The White BET Awards.”