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Published January 16, 2015

Reverend Al Sharpton called for an emergency meeting of his diversity task force Thursday after the Academy Awards nominated only white actors.

The lack of diversity in todays Oscar nominations is appalling, and while it is good that Selma was nominated for Best Picture, its ironic that they nominated a story about the racial shutout around voting while there is a racial shutout around the Oscar nominations, Sharpton said in a statement. With all of the talent in 'Selma' and other Black movies this year, it is hard to believe that we have less diversity in the nominations today than in recent history.

The outspoken Sharpton said he will meet next week with allies to discuss "potential actions" ahead or during the Feb. 22 award show.

The Academy's female African American president Cheryl Isaac Burke said she does not believe there is a diversity problem at the Oscars.

"No, not at all," she told Vulture when asked about this year's list of nominees. "The good news is that the wealth of talent is there, and it's being discussed, and it's helpful so much for talent whether in front of the camera or behind the camera to have this recognition, to have this period of time where there is a lot of publicity, a lot of chitter-chatter."

According to the LA Times, of the 6,028 Academy Award voters 93 percent are white and76 male are male. Halle Berry is the only African American female to win Best Actress. Four African American male actors have taken home an Oscar.T.J. Martin is the only African American to win Best Director.

"I think it's ridiculous, it's absurd, it's appalling that not only African Americans, Hispanic Americans and the whole artistic creative community wouldn't be represented at the Oscars," The Blaze's Amy Holmes told FOX News, noting that women were also shut out of the director and screenwriter categories.

But Democratic Party political pollster Bernard Whitman told FOX News that he does not think the lack of African American nominees means Academy members are racist.

"The Academy membership could be a little bit out of touch with what is current and popular in today's society, but having said that I think the fact that there are no African Americans nominated...is more of an anomaly than a type of systemic racism on the part of the Academy," Whitman said.

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Al Sharpton calls for 'emergency meeting' over Oscar nominations