The Best Speech of Oscars Night

Much of this year’s host-free Oscar ceremony was dedicated to the Academy Awards’ many shortcomings. Natalie Portman walked the red carpet in a cape with the names of women snubbed for Best Director. Chris Rock and Steve Martin, two prior emcees, mocked the lack of racial diversity in the acting categories. “Think how much the Oscars have changed in the past 92 years. Back in 1929, there were no black acting nominees.” Martin said. “Now, in 2020, we got one!” Rock replied. These were jokes at the expense of a predictable-seeming ceremony, one where.