British Films you must see before you die Compiling any film related list is never an exact science and no doubt to some weve left out some real stonkers Elizabeth, while Queen of England, rarely mentioned her mother. In fact she did not even attempt to have her birth legitimized as her sister, Queen Mary I had done. The Evil Matriarch trope as used in popular culture. A mother is one of the most central figures that a character can have growing up, and her influence can. The Daughter Of The Queen Of Sheba And Her Only Son In Military' title='The Daughter Of The Queen Of Sheba And Her Only Son In Military' />LZ The Oscars take on inequality. Story highlights. LZ Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Oscars was an apt backdrop for theme of fighting inequality that ran through the night. He says in acceptance speeches actors advocacy for equality for blacks, women, LGBT people was timely, moving. LZ Granderson is a CNN contributor, a senior writer for ESPN and a lecturer at Northwestern University. He is a former Hechinger Institute fellow, and his commentary has been recognized by the Online News Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. Follow him on Twitter locsnlaughs. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. LJxqQOsR4/TFPzEEb4vnI/AAAAAAAAABo/fyV8RAtULpA/s1600/Saabankuningatar.jpg' alt='The Daughter Of The Queen Of Sheba And Her Only Son Shakey' title='The Daughter Of The Queen Of Sheba And Her Only Son Shakey' />CNNThe talented, charismatic and handsome Neil Patrick Harris brilliantly ushered this years Oscars through the potential landmines of political commentary and irreverent humor. Indeed, from hosting many of the entertainment worlds most prestigious award shows, to posing on the recent cover of Architectural Digest with his husband David Burtka, its nearly impossible not to see Harris front and center somewhere. All of which makes it hard to remember this former child star was a closeted actor afraid of being found out, not too long ago. In so many ways, Harris careeras well as the resurrected career of last years Oscar host, Ellen De. Generes are reminders of how were learning to treat each other better. Of how were learning to allow space for those who are different from us. The Daughter Of The Queen Of Sheba And Her Only SongWith a Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage looming, Harris not only served as an Oscar host, but an unspoken reminder of the work that still must be done in the name of equality. Oscar night was full of such reminders. Such as in John Legends sobering acceptance speech, which touched on the recent, systematic attack on American voters rights and the disproportionate incarceration rate for black men. Nina Simone said its an artists duty to reflect the times were in, he said as he clutched the Oscar he shared with Common for best original song, Glory, from the film Selma. Selma is now because the struggle for justice is right now. There are more black men under correctional control today than there were in slavery in 1. And during her best supporting actress Boyhood acceptance speech, Patricia Arquette brought Meryl Streep and others to their feet as she took time to criticize the gender pay gap. To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody elses equal rights. United States of America she said. And then there was best adapted screenplay winner Graham Moore The Imitation Game, and his words of encouragement for those who feel they are on the outside looking in. I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like shes weird or shes different or she doesnt fit in anywhereyes you do, he said. I promise you do, you do. Stay weird. Stay different. And when its your turn and you are standing on the stage please pass the same message to the next person who comes along. Politically inflected acceptance speeches are hardly new at the Oscars. But these felt different They were not some self important actors hijacking the program for a personal agenda, but rather an acknowledgement of the very real conversations we are all having right now. Even a handful of immigration references found their way on stage as Birdman directorscreenwriter Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu acknowledged he followed up fellow Latino director Alfonso Cuarn as best director. Later, while accepting the Oscar for Best Picture, Irritu was more direct The ones that live in this country, who are part of the latest generation of immigrants, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones who came before and built this incredible immigrant nation. How To Stop Kodak Printer Software Update. Fans of Selma may still be upset about the awards snubs that preceded Oscar night for the film, which traced Martin Luther Kings campaign for equal voting rights for black people the movies sole statue was for the song, but the ceremony in many ways took up the themes beautifully portrayed in the filmboth spoken and unspoken.