 Is it me, or is almost every single award-winning celebrity making a political statement these days? But does all this speaking out at awards shows actually make a difference? There are celebrity activists who get trolled, and then there's Marlon Brando. In 1973, when he won an Oscar, not only did he not show up to the ceremony, but he also had an Apache activist appear on his behalf. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry. Despite the booing and the media and industry backlash at the time, Marlon Brando's stunt reached approximately 40 million people. Since then, social issues like marriage equality, women's rights, racial diversity, anti-war sentiment have all been spotlighted at awards shows. And let's face it, actors get a ton of flack when they do speak out, which can actually be kind of awesome. The time has come for us to start using our acting talents in a different way. Yes, we can use our powers to change the world. So do these speeches make any kind of difference? The short answer is maybe. Remember that Ellen Oscar selfie? That was one of the most shared photos in history. Now imagine the power of that reach with an important message attached. 40 years ago, this country went down a rabbit hole. To all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful. Climate change is real. It is happening right now. At the very least, living in the social media age means that people have instant access to information. So Leo's rousing speech on climate change, for example, can instantly be Googled, and those searches measured, giving us quantitative evidence on how effective these speeches actually are. In a moment as rarified as winning an Oscar, famous people on the podium have a chance to quickly, deeply, and publicly connect themselves to important issues. A lot of them are putting their money where their mouth is, far outside the strobe lights and social media attention of the Oscars, and props to those people. In 1940, Hattie McDaniel made history for being the first black person ever to win an Academy Award. Fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests, this is one of the happiest moments of my life. Her acceptance speech was pretty simple, but presenter Faye Bainter put it into context. I recognize and pay tribute to those who give their best, regardless of creed, race, or color. A lot has changed since then, for the better. But the message of inclusion, representation, fairness, and equality remains the same. What is Hollywood anyway? It's just a bunch of people from other places. So, what do you think? Do celebrities have the power to move the social justice needle with just one two-minute acceptance speech? Or is it a bunch of hot air? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and let us know what issues you wish they would take up. But don't. And keep coming back to Uproxx for more Vandemonium.