Five Black actors are nominated for 2024 Oscars

Right on time for Black History Month, “Rustin,” starring Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, Frank Harts as Jim Farmer, Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph and Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as John Lewis, recreates the world-changing 1963 March on Washington. – Photo: David Lee, Netflix by Daphne Young When the 96th Oscar nominations were announced live, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, Black actors and actresses, along with several African filmmakers had something to shout about. Actors Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) and Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”) are all first time nominees! The movie confronts stereotypes about Black writers in the literary world and is Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, earning him nominations for both Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay. Another contender for Best Actor is Colman Jason Domingo for his portrayal of Bayard Rustin, a civil rights organizer who helped plan the historic 1963 March on Washington. “Rustin” is an inspirational true story about an openly Black gay hero, written by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. Ironically, former President Barack Obama is the founder of the production company, Higher Ground, which financed the George C. Wolfe drama that’s now playing on...