There’s lots to love about the Oscars. Scores of ‘Best Dressed Lists’ flood Facebook feeds, Hollywood’s A list-ers make witty quips as they saunter down the red carpet and, once in a while, Neil Patrick Harris struts on stage in nothing but his tighty whities. It was a great night and the millions of people that tune into watch couldn’t agree more.
Occasionally, the celebrations take on a more sombre note and acceptance speeches become a powerful medium to inspire change. The Oscars this year were no different.
And here are the speeches we should all sit up and take note of.
1. Patricia Arquette on the gender pay gap
The 46-year old Boyhood actress took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. But not before she decided to put her speech time to good use. As gender inequality continues to plague the industry, Arquette spoke out against it and everything it stands for.
“To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”
(Full speech here .)
2. John Legend and Common on racism
They won Best Original Song for ‘Glory’ and as they accepted their awards, John Legend and Common asked the audience to remember that the theme of the movie, Selma, is still a reality.
“…We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say Selma is now, because the struggle for justice is right now. We know that the voting rights, the act that they fought for 50 years ago is being compromised right now in this country today. We know that right now the struggle for freedom and justice is real.”
(Catch the full, impassioned speech here .)
3. Graham Moore on ‘staying different, staying weird’
Accepting the award for writing the script of The Imitation Game, Moore spoke of the time he tried to commit suicide, terrified because he didn’t fit in. However, “standing on the other side”, he hoped to remind anyone who’s ever felt that way that things do get better.
“I would like this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she’s weird, or she’s different, or she doesn’t fit in anywhere – yes, you do. I promise you do. Stay weird, stay different and then when it’s your turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass this same message to the next person that comes along.”
(Watch Graham Moore win the night here .)
4. Alejandro González Iñárritu as he hoped for a better tomorrow for Mexico
The ‘Best Director’ at the Oscars, Alejandro González Iñárritu dedicated his award to his fellow Mexicans. The man behind Birdman made a plea for a better government in Mexico and a better future for immigrants in America.
Source: CNN Mexico
“I pray that we can find and build a government that we deserve and ones that live in this country, who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect as the ones who came before and built this incredible, immigrant nation.”
(Watch Alejandro González Iñárritu talk about his home, here . )
