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Oscar Statue at the 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, M

After receiving a lot of backlash for the lack of diversity in their nominations and council, the Motion Picture Academy is set to change the organization’s mostly White dynamic – by 2020.

On Thursday evening, the members of the Academy gathered and approved of the organization’s efforts to increase diversity in the council. In a statement, it was revealed the Academy is committing to doubling its amount of women and minorities. Cheryl Boone Isaacs said: “The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up. These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.

Though the changes won’t affect this year’s voting process, many are reacting to the news. Rev. Al Sharpton first boycotted the Oscars, but is now taking the Academy’s proposal into consideration.

Selma director Ava DuVernay also shared her thoughts via Twitter, calling it “One good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color + women artists.

What are your thoughts?

SOURCE: Oscars, TMZ | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty 

#OscarsSoWhite: The Motion Picture Academy Votes To Double Membership Diversity By 2020  was originally published on globalgrind.com