09 - 15 NOVEMBER 2026
Ben Arogundade
Ben Arogundade is an award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster. His book, ‘Hollywood Blackout: The Battle for Inclusion at the Oscars’, explores how the Academy Awards have historically failed to recognise the work of minorities and women, and how this has begun to change over time.
ABOUT THE BOOK
'Hollywood Blackout: The Battle for Inclusion at the Oscars'
On 29 February 1940, African American actor Hattie McDaniel became the first person of colour, and the first Black woman, to win an Academy Award. The moment marked the beginning of Hollywood's reluctant move toward diversity and inclusion.
Since then, minorities and women have struggled to attain Academy Awards recognition within a system designed to discriminate against them. For the first time, Hollywood Blackout reveals the untold story of their tumultuous journey from exclusion to inclusion; from segregation to celebration.
Author Ben Arogundade interweaves the experiences of Black actors and filmmakers with those of Asians, Latinos, South Asians, indigenous peoples and women. Throughout the decades their progression to the Oscars podium has been galvanized by defiant boycotts, civil rights protests and social media activism such as #OscarsSoWhite.
Whether you are a film fan, history lover or diversity advocate, Hollywood Blackout is the quintessential choice for all those who wish to know the real story of Hollywood, the Oscars and the talents who fought to make change.
