Who was the first African American to win an Oscar?

This gorgeous woman was born in the latter half of the 19^th century and actually was the first African American artist to win the famous Oscar award in 1940. She was also known as the first African American singer whose songs were broadcast by American radio stations. It's sad to remember, but her name wasn't mentioned in credits of the most movies she starred in as an actress. Nevertheless, nowadays people tend to appreciate her talent more than 80 years ago.

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83 Comments

Ray Metoyer

What is more significant is the 1940 Academy Awards was held in a segregated hotel and the studio needed special permission to even get Hattie McDaniel in the building. Also when the movie premier was held in segregated Atlanta in 1940, all of the Black actors were banned from attending. The unconfirmed claim the studio wrote her speech for her, is consistent with that segregated mindset; (of course they had to write it for her because "they" are too stupid to write it themselves). In real life, Hattie McDaniel was not a stupid maid or washwoman, but a brilliant Ameican actress who appeared in over 300 films and was forced to play in these subservient roles to survive. She was ACTING out a role as "Mammy", that's not who she really was.

Randal Jonas

At the very least, the answer paragraph should've identified the name of the movie for which Ms McDaniel won her Oscar. Once again, shame on the lack of accuracy & thoroughness displayed by the folks who create this site. FYI, the movie was "Gone with the Wind."

Larry W. Jones

The ceremony was held in Atlanta, GA, that year. She was not allowed to attend because of her skin color. For anyone who doesn't know who she was, she played Mammy in the 1939 movie, "Gone With the Wind."

timolsen

That is actually incorrect. The premier of the movie was held in Atlanta and Selznick, the producer, advised that the African American actors might better off skip the premier for their safety. They did attend the second premier in Los Angeles. The Academy Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles in 1940, and Ms McDaniel did attend and accepted the award, mentioning her pioneering scenario

tdelisi

Good question - yes. Terribly incomplete answer provided

Bewley Steve

Tom DeLisi She won the Oscar for her role in Gone With the Wind in 1940.

Gary Chadwick

Well the explaination didn't give much information. Knew and African american named Hattie won one for "Gone With the Wind". figgured she was the first.

teacherchicky

I don't think the author intended to create a racial discussion with this question, Ray. But who could forget Hattie McDaniel in Gone With the Wind? She was amazing playing the perfect personification of a plantation house negro in that era!

Ishwar Chandra Sinha

A great question - that launched a sunami of responses ! Not many questions have the honours for generating so many corrections and updations. Compliments to "Society - mdease" for the loaded question which drew such nice and informative responses.They deserve our compliments ! Cheers !!

Ramrod

There could have been a whole lot more provided in the explanation/source> Much more info has been provided in the comments

Johnny Rock

Important to reference the category that the particular Oscar was in? Best supporting actress.

Rob Farr

.... and she thoroughly deserved it. A good movie trivia question

Diane Brown

She won the oscar for Mammy in Gone Withthe Wind. That would have been amore appropriate answer.

Ross Shoemaker

See below ,ok I can not write a sentence

Ross Shoemaker

She was so much more to her. A groundbreaker in the very tight world of film. She was successful in her business as well as her craft.

TSH

What???

Jack Kircher

I saw a film clip of her on a "Wizard of Oz" comentary as they told of films "Toto" had been in. She was an AMAZING actress. She had to be to win such an honor back in those days!