Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather, booed by some and cheered by others in 1973 when she turned down an Oscar on behalf of actor Marlon Brando, has died at the age of 75, it was announced on Sunday.
In August of this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars, held a ceremony at the new museum in Los Angeles, on the west coast of the United States, in honor of Littlefeather, during which it publicly called for apologize for the treatment given to the actress almost 50 years ago.
In a message, published on the social network Twitter, on the death of the actress, the Academy quoted Littlefeather: “When I am gone, always remember that every time you defend your truth, you will keep my voice and the voices of our nations alive. and towns”.
Littlefeather, who was both Apache and Yaqui, was booed at the 1973 Academy Awards, the first ceremony broadcast live worldwide, when she explained, on behalf of Marlon Brando, why the actor refused to accept the Oscar instead. best actor for “The Godfather”.
Brando had asked Littlefeather to decline the award on his behalf, in protest of the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans.
“I walked in as a proud woman, with dignity, courage, grace and humility,” Littlefeather said at the museum’s ceremony.
“I knew I had to tell the truth. Some people can take it. And some people can’t,” he added.
The actress and activist also said she had to prevent actor John Wayne, popularized by his various ‘cowboy’ roles in ‘westerns’, from physically assaulting her as she left the stage.
Littlefeather, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the first screen actors’ union founded in 1933, had difficulty finding work in Hollywood.
Before the ceremony and in response to questions from reporters about how she felt about waiting so long for an apology, Littlefeather said, “It’s never too late for an apology. It’s never too late for an apology.”
Source: TSF
