It is one of the most legendary moments in Oscar history. No, I’m not talking about Will Smith smacking Chris Rock across the chops (although, that too will live in infamy). In 1973, Marlon Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor for “The Godfather.” Marlon did not accept the award. In his stead, was Sacheen Littlefeather (seen above in the center), a native American woman who stepped to the podium and announced Marlon was declining the Oscar in protest of the treatment of her people by the Hollywood establishment.
Her speech was cut off and was both roundly booed and applauded. The 1973 Oscars were held during the American Indian Movement’s two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota. In the prevailing years since her appearance in the limelight, Littlefeather claims she has suffered much discrimination and humiliation for it. Well, now, some 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized to her for the this abused and will now host her for an evening of “conversation, healing and celebration” on September 17. Wouldn’t it be a great moment if the now 75-year-old Littlefeather sent a descendant of Marlon Brando to the event to decline in her honor?
