"I knew I had to tell the truth," she said in mid-September.
Some people can accept it.
And some don't."
Actress Sacheen Littlefeather, who died on Sunday October 2 at the age of 75, had indeed remembered a stormy evening: that of the Oscars ceremony, organized in 1973. The activist of Apache and Yaqui origin had then refused the prestigious award in the name of Marlon Brando, crowned best actor for his role in
The Godfather
(1972).
All this with a view to denouncing the way in which Native Americans were treated in the cinema industry at the time.
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Persona non grata
“I represent Marlon Brando this evening, and he asked me to read you a very long speech, which I cannot share with you at the moment, for a matter of time (…), she had started.
To his great regret, he cannot accept this very generous award.”
Before adding, under the boos of the public: "And the reason why he cannot, it is the way in which the cinema industry treats the Native Americans, but also the way in which they are treated in the world of television (...).”
And the young woman, on the verge of tears, concluded: “I hope not to have interfered in this evening, and that in the future, our hearts and our empathy will be filled with love and generosity.
Marlon Brando thanks you”.
A speech condemned by the audience, which had hastened to express its dissatisfaction.
To the point that John Wayne, star of the western, would have failed to attack Sacheen Littlefeather when he left the stage.
The incident later earned the young woman, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, difficulties to be employed in Hollywood.
The Academy's Apologies
In mid-August, nearly fifty years after the incident, the Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences apologized to the actress in a letter.
“The insults you suffered because of this statement were misplaced and unwarranted,” wrote the then president of the Academy, David Rubin.
The emotional burden you have carried and the cost to your own career in our industry is irreparable.
»
Before continuing: “For too long, the courage you have shown has not been recognized.
For this, we offer you our most sincere apologies and (express to you) our sincere admiration.
“
Sacheen Littlefeather had reacted to this mea culpa on September 17, during an event organized at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
She had then felt that it was "never too late for an apology" - nor "for forgiveness".