For wanting to convey a message about the sad fate reserved for her people in front of an audience of representatives of American cinema, the actress and Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather received boos and insults in return. Almost 50 years after the events, the Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences, responsible for awarding the prestigious Oscars each year, apologizes to him.
It was in 1973, during the 45th ceremony of the annual high mass of American cinema. The Academy wished that year to honor Marlon Brando, awarding him for his performance in The Godfather the prestigious best actor statuette. But the actor was absent. In her place, Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage. On behalf of Marlon Brando, she refused the award, in protest against Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans, and the discrimination they suffered.
Conspired by the room, she later claimed that security guards had even had to prevent John Wayne, the star actor of westerns, from physically assaulting her.
Last June, when the actress was invited to speak at the Oscars museum in Los Angeles on September 17, the Academy apologized. “The insults you suffered because of this statement were misplaced and unjustified,” says a letter sent by then-President of the Academy, David Rubin. “The emotional burden you have carried and the cost to your own career in our industry is irreparable”. “For too long, the courage you have shown has gone unrecognized. For this, we offer you both our most sincere apologies and [nous vous faisons part de] our sincere admiration”.
“We Indians are very patient people – it’s only been 50 years!” reacted Sacheen Littlefeather, 75, Monday August 15 in a press release. “We have to keep our sense of humor about it, all the time. It’s our means of survival”she added. “It’s heartwarming to see how so much has changed since I didn’t accept the Oscar 50 years ago.”
The Oscars museum, which opened last September, had pledged to confront the “problematic history” of the film industry, whether it was the racism that tainted Gone with the wind or recent controversies over the low representation of women and minorities. He already discusses the welcome given to Sacheen Littlefeather on that famous evening in 1973.