Excellence Wasn’t Enough: How Awards Season Keeps Failing Black and Queer Artists

Awards season is meant to celebrate excellence in art. But year after year, historic, boundary-pushing work by Black and queer artists has been overlooked, ignored, or passed over. These moments reflect broader patterns in how institutions recognize art and who is deemed “award-worthy.” Here are just a few instances where Black artists and queer visionaries were overlooked for prominent awards. 

1. Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange” and Grammy Album of the Year

When Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange” arrived in 2012, it was widely celebrated for its innovative sound and candid portrayal of queer desire. Despite winning Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammys, it lost the coveted Album of the Year to Mumford & Sons’ “Babel.” This snub was recognized as emblematic of the Recording Academy’s hesitance to reward groundbreaking work from Black and queer artists in top categories. Even when their work shapes the industry.

2. “Paris Is Burning’s” Oscar Snub

Jennie Livingston’s “Paris Is Burning” is now widely regarded as one of the most important documentaries about queer ballroom culture. When it was released in 1990, it won multiple festival prizes and critics’ awards. Yet it did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Many activists and critics at the time accused the Academy of overlooking a profoundly influential film about marginalized communities. 

3. “Carol” Misses Best Picture at the Oscars

In 2015, Todd Haynes’ “Carol”, a critically loved lesbian romance starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, received acclaim and major critics’ awards. Yet it was notably absent from the Academy’s Best Picture lineup. This snub was an indicator that Hollywood wasn’t fully ready to honor queer cinema in its most prestigious categories. Even when both performances and filmmaking were lauded by critics. 

4. Colman Domingo’s “Sing Sing” Loss at the Oscars

At the 2025 Oscars, Colman Domingo, a Black queer actor, was considered a strong contender for Best Actor for “Sing Sing,” but ultimately lost to Adrien Brody. Coleman made history in 2024 as the first Afro-Latino actor to be nominated for the Best Actor category at the Oscars. 

Why These Snubs Matter

Beyond individual years, broader trends at the Grammys have drawn scrutiny. Black artists frequently rack up nominations, from SZA to Kendrick Lamar,  yet often come away without wins in the major categories. Even in years where Black musicians lead nominations totals, they fall short of top honors. Suggesting that the industry still struggles to center Black artistry in its highest honors. 

Likewise, queer musicians like Sam Smith, Halsey, and Remi Wolf have been passed over in Grammy nominations for major categories, despite critical praise for their albums and singles. 

These moments go beyond a trophy not arriving in the mail. When artists like Frank Ocean, the artists behind “Paris Is Burning,” “Carol,” and others are passed over, it shapes whose stories are valued in the cultural mainstream, and who is deemed serious or award-worthy. For Black and queer creators, who have historically fought for visibility, these snubs become another layer in a long struggle for recognition.

Are you watching this Award Season? Do you have any nominations you are rooting for? 

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