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Read the press release here.

Harlem Boycotts Oscars, Gives Alternative Award to Black Artists

By Gustavo Solis | February 24, 2016 2:21pm
 Local artists and business owners are teaming up to protest the lack of diversity in this year's nominees for the highest honor in the film industry.
Local artists and business owners are teaming up to protest the lack of diversity in this year's nominees for the highest honor in the film industry.
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Facebook/The Academy

HARLEM — Vote for your favorite black actors and directors who got snubbed from the Academy Awards at an Oscar boycott party this Sunday.

A group of local business owners and artists decided to host #HarlemOscarBoycott after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences failed to nominate a single person of color for their annual award show for the second year in a row.

"After I read the news about the snub again this year I just thought we had a good opportunity to be able to get the word out and let people know there’s been an injustice and we are doing something about it in our own way," said Christine Scott, who is organizing the event.

The party will be at Shrine World Music Venue on 2271 Seventh Ave. from 1 to 5 p.m. Trailers from films like Concussion, Creed, Straight Outta Compton, Beasts of No Nation, and Chi-Raq, will be shown throughout the party as people cast their votes.

Those who cannot attend will be able to vote for best actor, best actress, best director, or best film online through the website Ideacoil.

“The point is putting the power in the people’s hands,” said Nadhege Ptah, a local filmmaker whose movie about a Haitian immigrant adjusting to life as a housekeeper in New York City will be screened at the party.

A local artist created a rival to the Oscar statue, modeled after the Egyptian creator god who bares a striking resemblance to the Academy Award statue, coincidentally called the Ptah award. The filmmaker had nothing to do with making the award.

Winners should expect to get the trophy in the mail, said Laurent Delly, the co-founder of Ideacoil.

"We hope the players in Hollywood are aware of what we are doing," he added.

Several high-profile artists like Jada Pinkett Smith, her husband Will Smith, Spike Lee, Mark Ruffalo, and Snoop Dogg, plan to boycott this Sunday’s award show.