Gil Robertson IV

Gil Robertson IV (born August 13, 1964, in Los Angeles, California) is an African-American journalist and author. He is president of the African American Film Critics Association.[1]

Early life and education

Robertson grew up in California. He earned a B.A. degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles.

Career

Robertson is known for his contributions to numerous publications that include: the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Black Enterprise and Essence Magazine among others. He is also founder and editor of the Robertson Treatment Syndicated Column (RTSC), one of America's most widely read urban lifestyle columns targeting the African American demo.

As an author, Robertson has contributed to the anthology Souls of My Brother and is a frequent contributor to the African American Almanac. His first book, Writing As A Tool of Empowerment, was published in 2003. On December 1, 2006, Agate Publishing released Not in My Family: AIDS in the African American Community, a collection of essays about the AIDS epidemic, edited by Robertson.

Robertson edited the anthology Family Affair: What It Means To Be African American Today,.[2][3]

Robertson became involved in the 2016 controversy surrounding the all-white list of Oscar nominees in the acting category. The president of the Academy Cheryl Boone Isaacs,[4] the first African American and third woman to lead the Academy,[5] denied in 2015 that there was a problem. When the nominations for acting were all white for a second year in a row, Robertson called it "offensive," and a repeat of the previous year's failure to recognize actors of color.[6] He called for changes across the board in the Academy.[7]

Nevertheless, Robertson is not calling for a boycott of the Oscars, as some activists have. He noted that his organization is working with other professional groups to correct the lack of diversity in Hollywood and at the Oscars.[8] In fact, AAFCA is hosting an Oscar viewing party in Los Angeles.

Robertson is a member of the National Press Club. Robertson resides in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Awards and nominations
  • NAACP Image Award
    • 2006: Nominee-Best Literacy Nonfiction-Not In My Family
  • African American Literacy Award
    • 2007: Nominee-Best Non-Fiction-Not In My Family

References
  1. Oscar Nominees Include Zero Nonwhite Actors Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 14, 2016
  2. Gil L. Robertson IV., ed. (2009). Family affair : what It means to be African American today. Chicago: Bolden Books. pp. xv, 407. ISBN 978-1-932841-35-0. LCCN 2008045716. OCLC 234438028.
  3. Williams, Sherri (April 20, 2009). "Editor hopes collection of essays stirs dialogue". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  4. "Cheryl Boone Isaacs Elected Academy President". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. July 30, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. "Cheryl Boone Isaacs elected first African-American head of Oscars". Goldderby.com. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  6. Another Oscar Year, Another All-White Ballot Cara B Buckley, The New York Times, Jan 15, 2016
  7. Oscars: Acting races are an all-white field USA Today, Jan. 15, 2016
  8. Film critic: Don’t boycott the Oscars, but keep pushing diversity Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jan. 21, 2016

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