The Oscar Academy announced on Twitter on Sunday that Sacheen Littlefeather, actress and long-time Native American rights activist, died on Sunday at the age of 75.
In 1973, Littlefeather rejected the Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, which the actor had won for his role in the mafia epic “The Godfather”, citing Hollywood’s discriminatory treatment of Native Americans.
fighter for the truth
In her tweet, Oscar Academy quoted Littlefeather as saying, “When I am dead, always remember that whenever you stand for your truth, you keep my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive.”
It was only in mid-September that the Academy paid tribute to Littlefeather in the new Oscar Museum in Los Angeles and apologized to her for the hostility that had accompanied her speech around fifty years ago. Littlefeather said at the ceremony in September that she went on stage with “dignity, courage, grace and humility”. “I knew I had to tell the truth, some people may accept it, some may not.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=2QUacU0I4yU&t=1s
rejection for many years
The actress and Apache native said onstage at the 1973 Academy Awards that Brando was “unfortunately unable to accept this very generous award.” The audience reacted partly with applause, but partly with boos.
Littlefeather, who was an actress herself, struggled for years after her speech to gain a foothold in Hollywood. Casting directors warned directors against hiring her.
Sacheen Littlefeather rejects the 1973 Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando from the hands of her peers Roger Moore (left) and Liv Ullman (centre).
pj/fab (AFP / Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
