David Oyelowo Says Academy Favors ‘Subservient’ Black Roles

By Jamilah King Feb 02, 2015

"Selma" star David Oyelowo didn’t hold back during a recent ceremony at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival where he was honored as one of the year’s best actors. When asked about his Oscar snub and this year’s overwhelmingly white list of nominees, Oyelowo responded, in part, by saying, "This is truly my feeling; I felt this before the situation we’re talking about and I feel it now — generally speaking, we, as black people, have been celebrated more for when we are subservient, when we are not being leaders or kings or being at the center of our own narrative."

Watch his comments below.