Is the Oscar Awards racist? The Oscar Nominees have been announced. 2013 was a glorious year for African-Americans in the movies. There was a handful of critically acclaimed movies with Black presence and themes, but the Academy only voted for one.

'12 Years A Slave' is considered as the frontrunner in the Oscar race, primarily for Best Picture, Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o). See '12 Years A Slave' trailer below.

While that is indeed a cause for celebration, the Afro-American community claimed they had a valid racism complaint. What about the other movies: "Fruitvale Station," "The Butler" and "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom." Is there a limit for black-centric movies in the Academy? The Broadcast Film Critics Association even had "A Celebration of Black Cinema" celebration at the House of Blues in West Hollywood last Jan. 7 for these films, but they all came up empty-handed.

Shawn Edwards, an African American journalist from Kansas, told The Hollywood Reporter: "I was sick to my stomach. What do you have to do? Fruitvale Station is an outstanding movie. It won awards at Sundance and Cannes. If its writer-director Ryan Coogler was Matt Damon and BenAffleck, he'd have won an Oscar for best original screenplay. How about Naomie Harrisin Mandela? If she was Jennifer Lawrence, the Oscar would already have her name on it. It was shocking and disappointing. If it couldn't happen in a year with as many options as 2013, I don't know when it can. That's the saddest part of this. The most offensive statement I've heard people make is, 'If 12 Years hadn't been released in 2013, The Butler and Fruitvale would have had a better chance.' Is there only room for one?"

The Hollywood Reporter points out that there were some high points in Oscar history: "Fifty years ago, at the height of the U.S. civil rights debate, it chose Lilies of the Field's Sidney Poitier as the first black best actor winner. And 12 years ago, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won the best actor and actress Oscars at the same ceremony."

Is the Oscar Awards racist or is it simply a tight year for good movies? Will they get a win for "12 Years A Slave" and will it make up for the exclusion of the other films?

See '12 Years A Slave' Trailer below: