After the Jewish director Laszlo Nemes gave his acceptance speech, Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” played. Many non-Jews probably thought nothing of it. Many Jews, however, cringed.
Comedian Chris Rock launched his return stint as Oscar host on Sunday by immediately and unabashedly confronting the racially charged elephant in the room - the furor over the all-white field of performers nominated for Hollywood's highest honors.