January 24, 2024
National Hispanic Foundation Seemingly Forgets Colman Domingo’s Afro-Latino Heritage In Oscar Shoutout
While many in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities are celebrating Colman Domingo’s historical Oscar nomination, one Hispanic-based foundation is under fire for seemingly snubbing the actor’s Afro-Latino heritage.
While many in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities are celebrating Colman Domingo’s historical Oscar nomination, one Hispanic-based foundation is under fire for seemingly snubbing the actor’s Afro-Latino heritage.
Domingo made history on Tuesday, Jan. 23, when the 2024 Academy Award nominations were announced, and his name was included on the list for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Nominated for playing the title character in Rustin, Netflix’s biopic about the gay Black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, an adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. and the architect of the 1963 March on Washington, Domingo made history as the first Afro-Latino nominated for Best Actor and is only the second openly gay man to earn a nomination for playing a gay character, via The New York Times.
However, soon after the Oscar nominations were announced, one diversity-geared organization faced backlash for celebrating Latin Oscar nominees and failing to include Domingo’s name. The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts is under fire on X, formerly Twitter, after posting a celebratory tweet that only acknowledged actress America Ferrera and singer Becky G’s Oscar nominations.
Major congrats to two Latina stars for their #Oscars nominations: @AmericaFerrera, Actress in a Supporting Role (@Barbie), and @iambeckyg, Original Song (@FlaminHotMovie)! 🤩,” they wrote.
“These nominations open the door for future #LatinoRepresentation and recognition in film.”
Twitter users wasted no time calling out the foundation for what appeared to be a blatant snub toward Domingo’s Afro-Latino ethnicity. The Color Purple star was born in Philadelphia, but his father is from Belize, and his family is from Guatemala.
“You forgot Coleman Domingo, and we all know why,” one user wrote.
“Hmm, smell like colorism in here,” added someone else.
“You all are clearly racist & antiblack,” another user quipped.
One user blasted the foundation for omitting Domingo from a tweet highlighting the “Latino Representation” in this year’s Oscar nominations.
“The National Hispanic Foundation shouting out Latin Oscar nominees but leaving out Coleman Domingo who’s literally have his MOMENT while using the hashtag #LatinoRepresentation is exactly everything wrong w/ how my community treats Afro-Latinos,” they wrote.
It took over two hours later for the foundation to acknowledge the slip-up and respond with a tweet claiming Domingo was deserving of his own separate celebratory post.
“We completely agree that Colman Domingo’s historic nomination should be celebrated – and we wanted to call out this moment in a separate post,” they wrote. “We will continue working hard to bring light to the wins of the Latino community in the arts.”
It then took the foundation another three hours to finally post a tweet acknowledging Domingo’s history-making Oscar nomination as the first Afro-Latino to receive a nomination in the Best Actor category.
“We’re thrilled that Colman Domingo has been nominated for Actor in a Leading Role at the 2024 #Oscars for his powerful performance as Bayard Rustin, a key figure in the civil rights movement,” they wrote.
“Colman marks the first Afro-Latino nominated for best actor and the second openly gay man to earn a nomination for playing a gay character. This is a reminder that our storytelling must be as diverse as our racial and ethnic makeup. Congrats, Colman!”
But the damage was already done, and social media continued to let them have it.
“Just call yourself the National White Foundation for the Arts with the way you’re moving,” one user wrote.
“Your racism is showing,” added someone else.
Another user noted a hashtag the foundation seemingly forgot to use that was included in their initial tweet for Ferrera and Becky G.
“Y’all forgot something! #latinoRepresentation,” they quipped.