Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali Becomes First Muslim Actor to Win Oscar
He scripted history at the Oscars by becoming the first Muslim American to bag a Best Supporting Actor award.
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Mahershala Ali won the Oscar for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 89th Academy Awards. Ali took the coveted golden man home for his role in the Barry Jenkins-directorial ‘Moonlight’.
Ali’s victory comes in the face of the Oscars being slammed for ignoring performers from diverse backgrounds in favour of white artistes.
Interestingly, only two days ago, Ali told the Radio Times, about life as a black, Muslim American. The House of Cards actor, who converted to Islam at the age of 25, said that Islamophobia did not shock him as the discrimination he has faced due to his colour helped him almost pre-empt the religious bias.
Is this the Academy Awards’ attempt at promoting diversity at the Oscars? Or is this a political statement about life in Trump’s America?
Watch the Moonlight trailer here:
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