Russell Simmons -- Regarding Oscars ... I Don't Want the White Guys to Die!!!

Russell Simmons is very forgiving, not expecting a 94-year-old white Academy member to vote for "Straight Outta Compton."  But the solution is not to pray for Caucasian demise.

We got Russell leaving Craig's restaurant in WeHo Friday night, when he also gave us some info ... who's gonna get the Academy's Vanguard Award.