Hello there, dear reader! 👋 I hope you’re ready to dive deep into the world of award shows and diversity. As we all know, award shows have been a topic of controversy for years now due to their lack of diversity and representation. These shows have sometimes been accused of tokenism, where they add one or two diverse nominees just to look good without truly committing to diversity and representation.

But fear not! There is hope for these award shows to move towards genuine diversity and representation. In this post, we will explore different ways award shows can achieve this goal and move towards a more inclusive future.

Telling Diverse Stories

Award shows tend to favor traditional, mainstream narratives, which can often exclude underrepresented voices. This can change by focusing on telling diverse stories that showcase different perspectives and experiences. By including a variety of stories that represent different communities, award shows can become more inclusive and representational.

A picture of diverse people interacting with each other positively

Inclusive Voting Panels

The people who vote for the winners of these award shows should be reflective of the diverse range of nominees. Inclusivity starts with the creation of inclusive judging panels. Representation among the judges is critical to achieving truly inclusive results. By making sure there’s diversity seated on the judging panel, they will have more perspectives and can better assess and appreciate different forms of art.

A picture of diverse people sitting around a table, listening and sharing their thoughts

Supporting Emerging Talent

Award shows can be more inclusive by supporting emerging talent. The barrier for entry to these shows is often set extremely high and showcase a limited number of established talent, making it difficult for newer artists to get recognition. Instead of focusing on big names in the industry, they can make an effort to include emerging talents from underrepresented communities.

A picture of a person holding a microphone up to an emerging artist and cheering crowd behind them

Transparent and Inclusive Nomination Criteria

It can be challenging to judge nominations when the criteria are unclear. Making the nomination criteria transparent can help to ensure that nominees are evaluated on their work rather than their names. It gives everyone a fair chance to be featured and awarded, irregardless of their background and personal relationships. Transparency is key to creating an inclusive environment.

A picture of an open book with the word transparency written on it

Intentional Outreach

For award shows to truly become inclusive, they must make an intentional effort to reach out to underrepresented communities to ensure their work and performances are being considered. Outreach will not only help bring diverse talent to these award shows, but it will also let them know that their work is valued and appreciated.

A picture of a person reaching out to another person of a different race

Moving Beyond Tokenism

There you have it! These are just a few ways award shows can move beyond tokenism and towards genuine diversity and inclusion. By telling diverse stories, creating inclusive voting panels, supporting emerging talent, clarifying nomination criteria, and being intentional with outreach, award shows can shift towards genuine inclusion and diversity.

A crowd of diverse people holding hands and smiling together with the quote, "Together we can create a future with genuine diversity and representation!"