No white Christmas, and maybe fewer white award winners ...

In this intriguing consideration of the Oscars race, L.A. Times writer Greg Braxton looks at the fairly recent colorization of films and roles in Hollywood. He writes: "Almost a year after the racially tinged "Crash" scored a best-picture upset at the Academy Awards, deep explorations of nonwhite cultures have dominated the silver screen as have ethnic performers who have delivered penetrating, emotional portrayals."