Autumn Durald Arkapaw. Amy Madigan. Jessie Buckley. Maggie Kang. Michelle Wong.
Here are some of the feminist wins and losses that made up the 2026 Academy Awards.
Author: Diana Mafe
Diana Adesola Mafe is a professor of English at Denison University, where she teaches courses in postcolonial, gender and Black studies. She is the author of two books, Where No Black Woman Has Gone Before: Subversive Portrayals in Speculative Film and TV and Mixed Race Stereotypes in South African and American Literature: Coloring Outside the (Black and White) Lines. She has also published numerous articles and given a TedX talk, “Where are the Black Women in Speculative Film and Television?”
Rest in Power: Tina Turner—Queen of Rock & Roll, Acid Queen, Queen of Hearts
Tina Turner’s impact on the American cultural landscape—and her status as a feminist trailblazer—is undeniable. She carved out a reputation as a peerless artist who defied labels and was capable of reincarnation at any age.
‘Wakanda Forever’ Lifts Up Black Women—But Only So Far
Clearly, Wakanda Forever did something right, since it was the only source of nominations and the solitary triumph for Black women at the Oscars this year. Yet the film is also an ironic case study demonstrating how Black women are marginalized in the film industry.