Agreed!
The under-recognition of Hounsou’s talent, as evidenced by the Academy’s oversight of his performance in Blood Diamond, underscores the biases that shape award nominations. His comment about being perceived as “just off the boat” reveals an insidious form of racism that dismisses African actors as outsiders, regardless of their skill or achievements.
Hollywood’s reluctance to embrace African talent fully stems not just from ignorance but from entrenched power dynamics that prioritize Eurocentric narratives. This bias not only limits opportunities for African actors but also deprives global audiences of authentic representations of African stories.
