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The Incredible Journey Of Hattie Mcdaniel, The First Black Oscar Winner In Jim Crow America

On February 29, 1940, the epic film “Gone with the Wind” made history at the Academy Awards, sweeping eight Oscars across major categories.

Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the film captivated audiences and critics alike, earning accolades for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and more. However, the most groundbreaking moment of the night belonged to Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Oscar.

Her victory marked a significant milestone in the entertainment industry, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of Black actors and actresses.

Hattie McDaniel believed she was opening doors for people of color in the entertainment industry, but she faced criticism for accepting roles that reinforced racial stereotypes.

From humble beginnings to the first film role

Vintage portrait of young Hattie McDaniel

Born on June 10, 1895, in Wichita, Kansas, Hattie McDaniel was the 13th child of former slaves. Her family moved to Colorado when she was six, and it was there that she discovered her love for performing.

Hattie McDaniel as Mammy, serving in a scene from Gone with the Wind (1939)

“I knew that I could sing and dance…my mother would give me a nickel sometimes to stop,” McDaniel humorously recalled. At 15, she dropped out of high school to pursue acting, eventually joining her brother in a traveling carnival, according to the Colorado Virtual Library.

McDaniel in 1939

McDaniel’s career began to gain momentum when she produced an all-women’s minstrel show with her sister in 1914. Later, she became the lead singer for George Morrison’s Melody Hounds, a popular jazz orchestra. 

This success led her to Hollywood, where she landed her first film role in 1932. 

Making history with “Gone with the Wind”

Hattie McDaniel as Mammy, alongside Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara

Her most iconic role came in 1939 as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. The film’s success and her outstanding performance earned McDaniel an Academy Award, making her the first Black actor to receive the honor. 

A 1939 publicity photo for Gone with the Wind, including McDaniel, Olivia de Havilland, and Vivien Leigh

On the night of the ceremony, McDaniel wore a stunning turquoise gown adorned with rhinestones and white gardenias in her hair.

As she stepped onto the stage to accept her Oscar, the room filled with emotion and pride, and thunderous applause echoed through the venue.

Mammy and Scarlett O’Hara

In her acceptance speech, she said, “I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race and the motion picture industry.”

A win overshadowed by segregation and criticism

Hattie McDaniel, beaming with flowers after her historic Oscar win in 1940

McDaniel was treated as a second-class citizen due to her race, even when she had an Oscar in hand.

The Oscar ceremony was held at the Coconut Grove nightclub, which was part of the whites-only Ambassador Hotel. Hattie McDaniel was only allowed entry after producer David O. Selznick intervened on her behalf. 

Hattie McDaniel standing proudly with her Oscar, surrounded by awards, after her groundbreaking win in 1940.

When she arrived, McDaniel was escorted to “a small table set against a far wall,” where she spent the evening with her Black escort, F.P. Yober, and her white agent, William Meiklejohn.

She was not allowed to sit with her fellow cast members, who were all white. It would be two decades before another Black actor, Sidney Poitier, would win an Oscar in 1963 for Best Actor.

Hattie McDaniel as a maid in a dramatic scene

McDaniel continued to face persistent criticism from African American activists for the roles she accepted. Out of her 300 film credits, around 75 percent were caricatures of Black women. 

Hattie McDaniel and Shirley Temple

Even after winning her Oscar, she continued to be typecast in similar, demeaning roles. The studio even forced her to do a post-Oscar tour in her Mammy costume, a theatrical promotion designed to capitalize on her success.

Hattie McDaniel on the day receiving her Oscar

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) disavowed McDaniel for starring in films that portrayed racist stereotypes of Black people.

Hattie McDaniel, with her award

In 1947, McDaniel defended herself in an op-ed in “The Hollywood Reporter,” stating,

“Several times I have persuaded the directors to omit dialect from modern pictures. They readily agreed to the suggestion. I have been told that I have kept alive the stereotype of the Negro servant in the minds of theatre-goers. I believe my critics think the public more naïve than it actually is.”

With a fellow actress on set

She added: “I’d rather play a maid than be a maid.” At the time, refusing such roles often meant losing work for actors of color.

A lasting legacy of generosity and perseverance

McDaniel in February 1940

Despite the backlash, McDaniel believed in the impact of her work. She maintained an open-door policy for fellow African American creatives at her Los Angeles home. 

As chairman of the Black division of the Hollywood Victory Committee, she also organized shows for African American troops during World War II and generously donated to the NAACP despite their criticisms.

McDaniel as Beulah in August 1951, a year before her death

In her later years, McDaniel became the first Black actress to star in a successful radio show, “Beulah.” Sadly, after her death in 1952, her Oscar plaque went missing, and her final wish to be buried in the Hollywood Cemetery was denied due to her race. 

McDaniel leading entertainers from her Los Angeles home to Minter Field for a performance for World War II soldiers in 1942

Despite these challenges, Hattie McDaniel’s legacy endures. Her Oscar win paved the way for future Black actresses like Whoopi Goldberg, Octavia Spencer, and Viola Davis. 

Hattie McDaniel posing with friends and fellow actors at a social gathering

As McDaniel once said, “I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race and the motion picture industry.” Her trailblazing career ensured that she would be remembered as both.

 

Written by Phyllis Brown

Phyllis Brown, the historian behind The History Insider, started the site to share interesting and accurate history stories. Passionate about making history easy to understand, Phyllis brings the past to life, helping readers connect with stories that still matter today.

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