Gene Seymour : The first thing I noticed was that the water in my glass of ice tea had a very distinct taste to it. Much of the anger was tilted , especially , toward the omission of the film 's director , Ava DuVernay , whose nomination would have broken fresh ground as the first African American woman to compete for the best director Oscar . He says consider difference between Oscar support for `` 12 years a Slave '' and `` Selma '' Seymour : One is about blacks as victims ; one is about strong blacks as agents of their own salvation .
Gene Seymour : The first thing I noticed was that the water in my glass of ice tea had a very distinct taste to it. He says consider difference between Oscar support for `` 12 years a Slave '' and `` Selma '' Seymour : One is about blacks as victims ; one is about strong blacks as agents of their own salvation .