Groundbreaking Academy Awards

Re “ ‘Beautiful’ Historic Night,” March 25: It was the best historic annual Academy Awards that I have ever witnessed in 40 years, in that the event was both educational and inspirational. It was a joy to know that the color barrier was broken as two African Americans won top acting honors. Hopefully, this will have a very strong impact on the rest of the world. It is wonderful to observe that so many African American actors have kept the faith and persevered, even though they did not receive these types of awards in the past.

Barbara Hobbs

Gardena

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It was ironic that Whoopi Goldberg was the emcee on the night that the color barrier was broken for African American actresses. Anyone who remembers her performance in “The Color Purple” would agree that she should have had that distinction.

Larry Stahl

Mission Viejo

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Am I the only one who finds it ironic that the only one who didn’t win for “A Beautiful Mind” was Russell Crowe? Silly me; I thought the only criterion was that you had to be the best actor in a movie. What do I know?

Tony Valenzuela

Azusa

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The Academy Awards hit a high point in awarding Sidney Poitier a lifetime achievement award, and in his eloquent thanking of numerous white people for making it possible for him to reach his goals.

The low point came as a result of no mention being made about the nation’s turning to God for solace. Equally disappointing was Robert Redford’s failure, in discussing his Sundance Institute, to call for healthier movies of uplifting, hopeful themes, instead of more crime, violence, sex and drugs. Yea, verily, Hollywood, in spite of 9/11, is still Tinsel Town.

Raymond J. Eineigl

Riverside

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Leave it to Michael Ramirez to fire his typically uninformed cheap shots, this time at the Academy Awards (March 24). His lame swipe at the Oscars as misdirected hero worship arrived in time to reveal him thumbing his nose at Sidney Poitier, Halle Berry and Denzel Washington--all three of whom have made significant and positive strides for African Americans working in the film industry.

Whoopi Goldberg paid tribute to the heroes of 9/11 in her inimitable fashion (so much for Ramirez’s assertion that the heroes would be forgotten). Arthur Hiller and Robert Redford were saluted for humanitarianism and championing new and independent artists, respectively. Ramirez saw fit to fling mud at all of this in one of his tedious, self-righteous snits.

Amelie Frank

Van Nuys