Oscars 2019: Academy criticized for inviting green paper icon, John Lewis, an icon of civic rights



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The Academy's decision to have the "Green Book" presented by the US representative John Lewis is almost as controversial as the film itself.

The famous Civil Rights icon received a standing ovation while he was presenting the film, which was later named best film before pronouncing a powerful and poignant speech about his experiences of fighting racial injustice.

"I can testify that the painted portrait of this time and place in our history is very real," said the representative of Georgia.

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"It is engraved in my memory, black men and women, our brothers and sisters, treated as second class citizens, threatened to have raised their family or earned their living, beaten and sometimes killed for trying to live in dignity. Our nation bears the scars of that time, just like me. "

Amandla Stenberg, who was on stage with Lewis, then spoke directly about the "journey" of the characters in the movie, to which Lewis added, "Young or old, I encourage you to actively participate in the journey – This is Green book & # 39;. "

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Almost immediately, some critics were upset by Lewis' decision to promote a movie accused of being an outdated, sentimentalist film and rich in racial stereotypes.

The family of Don Shirley, who is played by Mahershala Ali in the film, also said that the performance was not accurate.

"I can not believe John Lewis is presenting Green Book," filmmaker Nia DaCosta said on Twitter. Ali won the Best Supporting Actress award for his role in the film.

"They really inspired JOHN LEWIS to come here with all his legit history and gravitas and to present GREEN BOOK. Is not it against the law on civil rights? Wrote R. Eric Thomas.

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"They dragged John Lewis here to vouch for GREEN BOOK," commented Sonia Saraiya, a Vanity Fair critic.

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"What silliness of the Academy to have the civil rights icon, John Lewis presents a GREEN BOOK clip. The ideal type of damage control is the inevitable backlash that was to come with his victory in the best film, "added critic Jordan Ruimy.

The controversy continued when "Green Book" was named "Best Movie", Spike Lee seemingly trying to leave the Dolby Theater after the announcement of the result.

Lee, a longtime basketball fan of the New York Knicks, compared the victory of the "Green Book" to a referee making "the wrong choice".

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Shortly after the announcement of the winner of "Green Book", the director headed to the back of the auditorium.

He eventually sat down and went into what appeared to be an intense conversation with writer Jordan Peele.

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