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Is it open season on the president's race? >> no, when you say it and if you're an african-american, if you're a minority and felt at any point time in your life you've been subject to racism there are certain things that will get your back up. >> reporter: using an outhouse for the first black president's library smacks of blatant racism to many. >> have you lost your mind? >> no ma'am, but you about to. >> reporter: it brings to mind the 2011 academy award nominated film "the help." according to kntv, the float's creator said the dummy was him and not the president, and it's all political sa...

Took a trip and you went on the same route traveled by the freedom writers to have a better understanding of that time. >> yeah. i took a road trip through the south through alabama and up to memphis and i went to montgomery to selma to birmingham, and then to memphis. i just went to all of these major civil rights sites that are portrayed in the movie and just being there was an extremely powerful experience. montgomery such a rich city historically. not just the civil rights movement but the civil war as well. this is one of the centers of american history over the last 150 years. >> yeah. >...

Same thing. it's about frustration with the public school system. the inability to measure what's going on there, the inability to measure whether or not the children are learning anything and whether or not the teachers are doing their jobs. and that frustration is what, i think, pointed to things like charter school and standardized tests. >> joining me here on the red carpet, one of the stars of "won't back down," two-time oscar nominee, viola davis. a pleasure to be here. >> thank you very much. >> we are happy to see you and congratulations on the film. >> thank you. >> in the recent film...

>> guys have it easier. >> easy for the guys, not fair. >> and nine films are up for best picture tonight. six, by the way, based on books, all of the buzz of course is surrounding the film, "the artist" critics predict it will make a sweep in the major categories, including, you know, best actor, best director. all of the big ones, a silent french film, the first time a silent film, by the way has been considered for best picture since 1930, but that's actually not the film up for best picture with the most nods. the "hugo" has 11 nominations, sorry, kind of hard to get your thoughts together...

Terminal illness. there's no way this guy would not have won the award tonight. finally, all due to him, this was a great role, he did a tremendous job in. i would have loved to see max van sydow or nick nolte. but this was christopher plummier mer toss win. >> from the most eloquent speech to the most emotional. octavia spencer for "the help." >> octavia spencer owned the role of minnie jackson showing such emotion and grit. and tonight she was so choked up about everything. you could tell she was really, really surprised even though everybody had said this was hers to win as well. >> okay. s...