For her role in the 1939 classic, Gone With the Wind, she became the first African-American winner of an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress). Who was she?

The historic achievement of becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award belongs to Hattie McDaniel. She earned the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her unforgettable portrayal of Mammy, the strong-willed house servant, in the epic 1939 film, Gone With the Wind. Her performance was widely praised, solidifying her place in cinematic history and breaking a significant racial barrier in Hollywood.

Despite this groundbreaking recognition, McDaniel’s experience at the 12th Academy Awards ceremony in 1940 was a stark reminder of the era's pervasive segregation. The event was held at the Ambassador Hotel, which maintained a strict "whites-only" policy. Only through intervention by the film’s producer, David O. Selznick, was McDaniel even allowed to attend, and she was seated at a small, segregated table separate from her castmates.

McDaniel's career spanned decades, including vaudeville, radio, and film. While she often played maid or servant roles, she defended her choices, famously stating she would "rather play a maid than be one." Her win, though controversial for some due to the nature of the roles available to Black actors at the time, was an undeniable triumph, paving the way for future generations of Black performers in an industry that had long excluded them from its highest honors.