(CNN) Five years after the birth of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, the Academy Awards air this Sunday with few people of color among its highest-profile nominees, reigniting questions about the industry's push toward greater inclusion and commitment to change. Yet as a documentary about black history in movies reminds us, the Oscars provide only one of the more visible and symbolic manifestations of where and how progress needs to be made. Produced for the BBC and available beginning Wednesday on Netflix, "They've Gotta Have Us" -- a three-part documentary by filmmaker and photographer Simon Frederick -- begins with the Oscars, showing "Moonlight's" breakthrough best-picture win and other victories for black talent, including Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave") and Jordan Peele (for writing "Get Out"). The conversation that ensues, however, highlights breakthroughs and pioneers in front of and behind the camera, while advancing the theme that true equality can only come from achieving gains beyond the inroads made in the narrow slice of movies that occupy the award circuit. That includes convincing studios that projects by and featuring people of color are good for business, and overcoming old preconceptions, like the belief that movies and TV starring African-Americans don't travel as well overseas in what's become an increasingly global business.

Source: CNN February 05, 2020 14:26 UTC