Oscars 2016: Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” Bookends Ceremony Amid Diversity Controversy, Chuck D Weighs In
Public Enemy photo by Joseph Okpako / Getty Images; Chris Rock by Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Last night at the Oscars, Chris Rock used his platform as host to spotlight Hollywood’s diversity crisis. As well as focusing several gags on the “Oscars So White” controversy, he also walked out on stage at the beginning of his monologue to Public Enemy‘s “Fight the Power.” The song later played out the show as the credits rolled. Chuck D noticed, and took to Twitter to address the track’s use. Watch TV footage of the closing credits below, and scroll down to read Chuck D’s tweets.
“Fight the Power” was featured in Spike Lee’s 1989 breakthrough film Do the Right Thing. In November, Lee received an honorary Oscar for his filmmaking work, but boycotted the 2016 ceremony due to the lack of nominations for actors of color.
Watch the opening monologue, including Chris Rock’s walk-on, at Just Jared.
Anyone else digging the #FightThePower jam playing during the #Oscars credits? pic.twitter.com/rpUFTt72UV
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) February 29, 2016
We protested the grammies in 1989 because they HAD zero catagory for the genre. A 10 yr music at the time. It was for the entire artform-duh
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Its the artform i WORKED in.It was my duty to fight for that respect.We unionized.Jeff&Will won it &we collectively applauded em #madeSense
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
I dont wanna hear about Oscars being white. Oscar been white. We have need black communities to support our ARTS as much as we do sports IMO
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
WHEN you CANNOT TEACH the ARTS in your community schools as HISTORY.You leave it up to the Govt & Corps to DEFINE you.Thus we wait for AWARD
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
ESPN TNT NBA & ABC is the reason StephCurry is a popular ICON.If you aint goin to the game you wont know. YET the equivalent in ARTS is ZERO
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Schools been wack.There is a REASON folks dont know sht about music film history etc. But sportsworld will LEAVE you if you dumb on the game
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Avg fan of music in 2016 fails any test when asked facts about it. Avg fan of sport passes the basics. In Black community its so EVIDENT
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
The USA govt cointelpro millennium plan; Dont teach them sht about the history of the sht they love & have them guessing instead of KNOWING
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
I toss a 100 sports names & many will know. Ill ask the last 100yrs of recording artists, actors, authors etc & watch fumbles all over my TL
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Knowledge of the ARTS & a Passport is a good place to start if you wanna keep w these next 4 yrs. You aint gotta travel but your mind better
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Oscars are like a TRADE show. If you aint in that business why should you care? Its like winter baseball meetings, how many care about that?
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Black Community support the ARTS as education REFORM & stop waitin for corporations to educate you on something they just hustling our way
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
I seen folk past 20yrs wanna be actors in movies but ignore their school theater & plays ( if they had it) or Rappers dissin music classes
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
When FERGUSON was happening the STL radio stations STILL didnt support the MANY artists there locally & visiting who screamed to the world
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
The song FightThe Power is beyond me & the crew.The point of the song is a call to making change eventually not just applauding the thought
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Art speaking. Fight The Power. Make change.Demand respect. Do your own awards RIGHT & give indie artists & actors a chance to make a LIVING
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Again I mention the support of HipHop depends on IT being a Academy of its own. Where are the so called moguls? USC got 30m while HHHOF cant
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
RobertTownsend Rusty Cundiff and Matty Rich ….
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
People spend more time talkin about StacyDash while NOT even knowing who JulieDash IS when they can look her up in their attached phones-smh
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
Well pay attention to what artists do now & could be the future. Fight The Power & DoTheRightThing zero in 1990 DrivingMissDaisy & GLORY won
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 29, 2016
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