ArcaMax

By contrast, sightings of Hispanic actors and actresses at the Oscars are much rarer. Jose Ferrer won for best actor in 1950. For best supporting actor, the winners include Anthony Quinn in 1952 and 1956, Benicio del Toro in 2000 and Javier Bardem in 2007. For best supporting actress, the winners include Rita Moreno in 1961, Mercedes Ruehl in 1991, and Penelope Cruz in 2008.

In the nearly 100-year-history of the Academy Awards, only a tiny handful of Latinos have snagged Oscars. That's pathetic.

Of course, there will be those who oppose the idea of extending affirmative action to the Oscars -- including, ironically, many liberals who think that it's a grand idea when corporate America is forced to embrace diversity. Some of the opponents will say that taking race and ethnicity of potential acting nominees undermines the concept of merit.

Oh, come on. Merit? This is Hollywood we're talking about. This may be the land of make-believe, but we don't have to go so far as to make believe that the entertainment industry is an arena where everyone who succeeds has earned his success.

So should there be racial and ethnic quotas at the Oscars? 

Absolutely not. Diversity -- while nice to have -- shouldn't be a goal in and of itself. Voters should strive to nominate the best performers, without regard to skin color but also without the kind of blind spot that this year is so evident.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.

Copyright 2015 Washington Post Writers Group