ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Film ‘Historic gains’ Oscar slate holds ‘fi rsts’ for Asians By Lindsey Bahr t may be hard to believe that there are still many I“firsts” left to check off after 93 years of the Acad- emy Awards, and yet this year there were a handful for Asian actors and filmmakers. Steven Yeun (“Minari”) became the fi rst Asian American actor to be nominated for best actor. Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) is the fi rst Muslim to be nominated for best actor. It’s the fi rst time that there are two best actor candidates of Asian heritage. Youn Yuh-jung (“Minari”) is the fi rst Korean woman to be nominated for any acting award. “Nomadland’s” Chloé Zhao is the fi rst Asian woman to be nominated for best director. And, with direc- tor Lee Issac Chung ’s direct- ing nomination for “Minari,” it’s also the fi rst time there are two Asian nominees in that race. The historic gains spotlight where the organization has made progress and where there is still work to do, especially Ahmed after a year in which Asian Americans were increasingly targeted in racist attacks. Nancy Yuen, author of the book “Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism,” said the nominations this year are exciting. The actors are being recognized for roles, Yuen said, “That are not demeaning, that aren’t fi tting into stereotypes that are problematic. They are fully complex human beings.” That hasn’t always been the case for Asian actors who have broken through to the Oscars. The fi rst and DMX performs during the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta on Oct 1, 2011. The rapper was mourned at a memorial with family and close friends at the Barclays last time an Asian woman won for acting was in 1958 Center in New York on Saturday. The event was closed to the public due to pandemic conditions. (AP) when Japanese actor Miyoshi Umeki won for her sup- porting role in “Sayonara.” In 1985, Haing Ngor be- came the fi rst Asian man to win a supporting award for playing Cambodian journalist Dith Pran in “The Killing Fields.” And none have won in the leading cat- Memorial egory since Ben Kingsley, whose father is Indian, won for “Gandhi” in 1982. Yul Brynner, who was born in Russia, won for “The King and I” in 1957. Nominations One of hip-hop’s greatest icons It’s coupled with the fact that there have been mul- tiple Asian-led best picture winners that didn’t receive any acting nominations. In the history of best picture winners, it’s only happened 12 times, and three of DMX immortalized by family, friends them had predominately Asian casts: “The Last Em- peror,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and last year’s “ Para- NEW YORK, April 25, (AP): DMX’s while fi lming a scene for “Belly,” a riving at the arena, where thousands of site.” Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” legacy was immortalized as a man be- crime drama. He said DMX became people crowded the streets. and “Life of Pi” were also nominated for best picture loved by his family, honored for his emotional knowing the rapper was Thousands of motorcycle riders sur- without a single acting nod. strong faith and respected as one of about to embark on a journey to be- rounded the monster truck, revving up “I think Asian Americans and Asians in the Western hip-hop’s greatest icons at his memori- come a “hip-hop icon.” their engines. Others gathered at the diaspora tend to be seen as invisible and background. al service Saturday, with several heart- “It’s a sad day as well as a glori- arena while some of DMX’s biggest They are window dressing,” Yuen said. “It leads to felt speeches from those who knew the ous day,” said Nas, who starred with songs from “Where The Hood At” and not recognizing Asians as fully complex actors and rapper best. DMX in the 1998 fi lm. “That was my “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” blared from characters.” The speakers included friends Swizz brother. We did a great movie together. the crowd’s speakers. Yuen and others noticed with “Parasite,” that peo- Beatz and Nas, as well as his daughter, On that movie, he was just rising up Cynthia Roberts, a 57-year-old ple largely referred to the small ensemble as “they” who rapped in honor of her father. as a star. His fi rst album didn’t even Brooklyn resident, said she has been rather by individual names: Chang Hyae Jin, Cho Yeo Kanye West and Busta Rhymes come out yet, but he knew his journey a fan of DMX since his Ruff Ryders Jeong, Choi Woo Shik, Lee Jung Eun, Lee Sun Kyun, were among the big names who at- was starting.” days. She showed up at the arena to Park So Dam and Song Kang Ho. Whether a Western tended the two-hour ceremony at the Eve said she was still having a hard pay homage to the rapper, saying she blind spot, a racial bias or some combination of the Barclays Center in New York. The ser- time with DMX’s death, remembering was struck by his rhymes, voice and two, it’s at least part of the reason for the systemic In this 1999, file photo, the late country vice at the Brooklyn arena was closed him as a “man, a father, a friend.” She musicianship. oversights. music legend Johnny Cash poses with to the public and restricted to close stood on stage with the Ruff Ryders “He was a true guy. He spoke his “People don’t bother to even try to learn,” Yuen his wife, the late June Carter Cash, friends and family because of the coro- collective, which helped launch the truth. He touched my soul,” said Rob- said. “That added layer of challenge, I think, makes in their Hendersonville, Tenn, home. navirus pandemic. careers of Grammy winners Eve and erts, who was sporting a DMX T-shirt. it that people in the academy aren’t even going to be The Man in Black is about to get his In a touching moment, DMX’s 15 Swizz Beatz and relaunch The Lox, She called the rapper’s music timeless. nominating someone in those fi lms unless they are al- own day in Arkansas. The Arkansas children gathered on stage to talk - and formerly signed to Bad Boy Records. “I tell myself he was put here for ready a known entity.” House on April 20, gave unanimous sometimes rap - about the star as a fa- After Eve spoke, Styles P talked that,” she continued. “We all have a Yuen, who grew up in the United States and also final approval to a bill that would make ther who taught them such lessons as about a time when he and DMX were job to do, and he did his job.” found herself having to look up the names on occa- Feb 26 ‘Johnny Cash Day,’ sending it “always say thank you,” “be kind to both in the same jail. He said DMX DMX, whose birth name is Earl to Gov Asa Hutchinson, who plans to everyone” and that being afraid can fetched him from his cell and then took Simmons, died April 9 after suffering a sion, said that she tried to always single out the actors sign it. (AP) if she was going to compliment “Parasite” or share a sometimes show a person how to be him to a part of the jail where he had a “catastrophic cardiac arrest.” He spent gif or an image on social media. brave. band set up along with a string of MCs. several days on life support after being “Our father is a king. Our father is rushed to a New York hospital from And the biases aren’t just relegated to the nomi- Accomplished nations. In 2016, the fi rst show after #oscarssowhite an icon,” eldest son Xavier Simmons his home April 2. became a household phrase, host Chris Rock brought said, adding that he was honored to be “DMX was the ghetto-est person Programs with images of DMX out three Asian children dressed up in suits for a now his son: “This man deepened my abil- that ever existed,” Styles P said. “What were handed out to the service’s infamous joke about accountants and iPhones. ity to love.” he means to us is indescribable. ... He attendees ahead of the ceremony, It was not well-received at the time and provoked Tashera Simmons, DMX’s ex-wife, celebrated us and pushed us. He was which was livestreamed on the rap- a lot of immediate social media backlash from people told the audience: “Everything he did, one of the most incredible individuals, per’s YouTube channel. The four- like actor Constance Wu and basketball player Jeremy he did for you all. He always wanted to because from the beginning of his ca- page booklet had different images Lin. The academy even apologized and pledged to be please you. He always wanted to give reer to the end, he accomplished some- of the rapper, including one with his more culturally sensitive. you his best show.” thing no one has ever accomplished. arms folded with wings and another “What he wants you to do,” she He was in pain the whole way. When- photo of him standing on stage dur- Recognized said, “is love Jesus the same way he ever you (saw) him, that man was in ing a performance.