If you were as excited as I was for this year’s Oscars, then you probably read about who won after the ceremony was over. Unless, like me, you got talked into attending a viewing party. Honestly, I was there strictly for the artichoke dip and alcohol (I missed the Super Bowl this year), but I became invested in the Oscar pool and therefore, watched way more of the Academy Awards than I have in years.

Yes, I admired some of the dresses. Sure, Steve and Alec had a few funny moments. And, I must admit, the Cloonz (that’s George Clooney to most of you) still has that special charm. Despite all of this (or maybe because of), I could only handle about an hour.

I did manage to catch Mo’Nique’s acceptance speech for best supporting actress. She mentioned that the award was “about the performance not the politics.” As some of you know, my political expertise (if you can call it that) lies mainly in the governmental arena, but if I can tackle the most f-d up governmental system in the world (okay I guess that’s an exaggeration), I should have no problem with the entertainment industry.

So let’s talk politics. If she truly thought she would lose to any of the other actresses after sweeping most other awards this season, she must be very, very humble. No amount of campaigning would convince them that any of the other performances were better than Mo’Nique’s portrayal of an abusive, drug-addicted mother.

The issue she should be worried about is the opportunities available for African-American actors. Many past African-American Oscar-contenders were nominated for traditionally African-American roles. Movies should not give society the idea that only white people have middle-class families, nor should they show only African-Americans as drug-addicts from the ghetto.

And this is not a black and white issue. Many other minorities are severely under-represented in today’s movies and television. American cinema should be more aware of who actually resides in America these days.

While Mo’Nique was a sure bet, politics may have had more of a hand in Kathryn Bigelow’s best director win. Personally, I was on Team Bigelow the whole way, but I know more than a few critics who placed their bets on her famous ex-husband. Bigelow is the first female awarded the best director Oscar. Did the history books put the cards in her favor?

Or the Academy has shied away from big-budget movies. “The Hurt Locker” producer Nicolas Chartier was banned from the ceremony because of an email he sent to members of the Academy encouraging them not to vote for a multi-million dollar film (cough cough “Avatar”).

When I got home from the party, I turned on the TV just in time to watch “The Hurt Locker” win best picture. And I was happy the little guy (or gal) won, politics or not.