PILLAR AWARDS

It was nearly three decades ago when writer-director John Singleton’s freshman film “Boyz N the Hood” gave us a compassionate and deeply human story about growing up black and ambitious with a life that is sadly expendable — long before Black Lives Matter rewrote that narrative. He earned not one, but two Academy Award nominations for helming the movie and penning the script. Though he didn’t win, “Boyz N the Hood” is still talked about as one of the best and most tragically honest films about young black men, cementing its place in cinematic history and in the hearts of audiences across the globe. Singleton was more than a writer and director he also an activist and a whistleblower who stood up to the Hollywood studio system from within the system.John Singleton criticized the major studios March 19, 2014 for refusing to let African-Americans direct black-themed films. "They ain't letting the black people tell the stories," the Oscar-nominated director-writer told students at Loyola Marymount University, expanding on a theme he addressed in a Dec. 18 Hollywood Reporter op-ed piece.

Richard Mauze Burr is an American businessman and politician who is the senior United States Senator from North Carolina, serving since 2005. A member of the Republican Party, Burr was previously a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is the dean of North Carolina's congressional delegation.

Melody Jo Samuelson, who worked as a psychologist at Napa State Hospital, filed suit against the Department of State Hospitals and three state-employed psychologists, claiming that she was retaliated against after disclosing that the hospital was not properly conducting competency assessments on criminal defendants who had been found incompetent to stand trial, and that the hospital's peer review discipline process was being used coercively and in violation of the hospital's own bylaws. Samuelson sued under two of California's "whistleblower" protection statutes: Labor Code section 1102.5, which prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who has reasonable cause to believe she is disclosing a legal violation; and Government Code section 8547.8, which protects a state employee from retaliation for making a protected disclosure about improper governmental activity.

Michael Elliott is president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive & Train Men in Washington State. Elliott alleged that BNSF was slow to address the issue, and in January 2011, after receiving no response, Elliott bypassed the railroad and took his concerns to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The FRA conducted a six-week inspection in which it found more than 375 violations, including one that resulted in a $1,000 fine.

Alex Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works, the convening member of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition— a coalition made up of over 340 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans. Lawson previously served as the Communications Director for the organization. In his current role, he coordinates the multifaceted education and advocacy operations to protect and improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations while maintaining Social Security as a vehicle of social justice. Lawson is also the owner of We Act Radio and its video and livestream production arm NMG Live. We Act is a media corporation that combines broadcast and new media to deliver shows in the formats people use most.

As expected, diversity (or the lack thereof) was the hot-button topic at tonight’s BAFTA Awards. Joaquin Phoenix, picking up his Best Actor prize for Joker, made a particularly poignant speech on the topic.“I feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege. I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here,” he said onstage at the Royal Albert Hall. “I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry, and in ways that we benefit from.”