How to Solve the Diversity Issue Surrounding the Oscars

Actors of color have given their two cents on the lack of diversity in this year's Oscars nominations.

When asked about the issue, Jada Pinkett Smith suggested that people of color should "refrain from participating all together," the 44-year-old actress wrote on Facebook on Saturday, Jan. 16. She also pointed out that people of color are always at the Academy Awards to give out awards and entertain, but asserted that they are seldom recognized for their contributions.

The issue was once again raised on Sunday's Critics Choice Awards. When asked about whether or not people should not attend the 88th Academy Awards, Niecy Nash said that a boycott was not an effective solution.

"I don't know if avoiding it altogether is going to help, but I just think we have to continue to move forward," the "Getting On" actress told ET. "We have this awareness and this spotlight -- we've got to look at other work. There's other work out there that I think was missed. We've just got to do better."

"Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez said at the 2015 Golden Globes that the Academy board's diversity should be looked at, which majorly consists of white men with an average age of 62.

"It's not as diverse as reflected in today's society. [We've] got to fix that," Rodriguez added, as quoted in a separate report from ET.

Tracee Ellis Ross, on the other hand, told ET that she "wasn't planning on going anyway." However, the "Black-ish" actress stressed out that she would likely not be invited because, as an actress in a TV show, the Oscars ceremony "does not necessarily apply" to her. She also stressed out that the Critics' Choice Awards is the award giving body that truly reflects "the world we live in and that is an example I think we should all look at," the news outlet further reported.

The Critics' Choice Awards nominees list include diverse actors and actresses from shows such as "Black-ish," "Fresh off the Boat," "Jane the Virgin," "Mr. Robot," "Empire," and "Transparent," ET listed. When it comes to films, only three people of color are nominated for awards: Abraham Attah ("Beasts of No Nation"), RJ Cyler ("Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"), and Shameik Moore ("Dope").

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said that the lack of diversity in this year's Oscars' nominations disappoints her.

"I hope this isn't discouraging for anybody, and for filmmakers in particular," she said at the nominations announcement, as quoted by ET. "You just keep moving along... We're going to keep pushing it."

Check out the full list of nominees for Oscars 2016 here.