The Greatest Black Moments at the Oscars [Updated]
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The Oscars are the biggest night in Hollywood. The best and most popular actors, actresses, directors and producers come out to celebrate the best in cinema over the past year.
Like many things, Black people have not always been highlighted and even these upcoming Oscars have some questionable snubs of deserving Black actors and movies.
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But, others have broken through and enjoyed historical success at the Academy Awards. Here are the greatest Black moments at the Oscars throughout the years.
First Black person to win an Oscar
Hattie McDaniel made Black history in 1940, becoming the first Black person to win an Oscar for her role in the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind. Althought it was an incredible achievement, McDaniel received the trophy in a segregated hotel.
Dorothy Dandridge becomes the first Black actress nominated for Best Actress
Although Dorothy Dandridge did not win the award for Best Actress in 1954 at the 27th Academy Awards, she did become the first Black actress to be nominated in that category. Black women weren’t nominated in the category again until 1972 at the 45th Academy Awards win Diana Ross and Cicely Tyson were nominated.
Sidney Poitier wins Best Actor
Sidney Poitier won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1963 for his performance in Lilies of the Field. He became the first Black actor to win the award for Best Actor, the most prestigious honor an actor can receive.
Isaac Hayes wins first Oscar in a non-acting category
Isaac Hayes, one of the most accomplished musicians in music, also made cinema history when he became the third Black person to win an Oscar overall and the first to win one in a non-acting category. He won the award for Best Original Song for his work on “Theme From Shaft” from the 1971 movie Shaft.
Louis Gossett, Jr. becomes the first Black actor to award for Best Supporting Actor
Louis Gossett, Jr., is one of the most underrated actors in history. People forget, in 1983 he became the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman.
Irene Cara becomes the only Black woman to win a non-acting Oscar
Unfortunately, the talented Irene Cara passed in November 2022, but her legacy continues to live on. In 1984, the talented singer won an.Oscar for Best Original for her song:“Flashdance... What a Feeling” from the movie Flashdance.
Prince wins for Purple Rain
We all knew Prince was going to be on the list. Prince’s sixth studio album, Purple Rain, also served as the soundtrack for the movie of the same name. To no surprise, he won an Oscar in 1985 for Best Original Song Score
Whoopi Goldberg takes home her first Oscar
Whoopi Goldberg won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her role in Ghost, bringing her halfway towards completing an EGOT.
Denzel Washington & Halle Berry make history
These two legendary actors had an all-time Oscars moment in 2002. Halle Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Monster’s Ball and Denzel Washington won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in Training Day. It marked the first time two Black actors took home the two prestigious awards.
Jamie Foxx is Ray
Jamie Foxx Wins Best Actor | 77th Oscars (2005)
Jamie Foxx was incredible in his performance as Ray Charles in the movie Ray. So it was no surprise that he won the award for Best Actor in 2005. Even more impressive, Foxx was nominated twice that night, once for Ray and another time for his supporting role in Collateral.
Three 6 Mafia takeover the Oscars
This particular moment was probably the biggest win for hip-hop as a genre at the Oscars. The legendary Memphis hip-hop group won the award for Best Original song for their Hustle & Flow record: “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” Their reaction to winning... it’ll bring smiles to any rap fan’s face.
Jennifer Hudson wins Oscar in her debut role
Jennifer Hudson first came to fame as a contestant on American Idol. Even though she didn’t win the singing competition, she became one of the show’s most successful contestants after leaving the show. In her debut film role, Hudson took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Dreamgirls.
Geoffrey Fletcher becomes the first Black writer to win Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay
This moment may not be the most recognizable to movie fans, but it’s just as important. Geoffrey Fletcher became the first Black writer to win an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the incredible film Precious. That same year, Monique also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the same movie.
Lupita Nyong’o jumps onto the scene
Lupita Nyong’o winning Best Supporting Actress | 86th Oscars (2014)
Lupita Nyong’o is one of the biggest movie stars in the industry now. But, the moment that gained her worldwide fame was her win at the Oscars in 2014 for Best Supporting Actress for her amazing performance in 12 Years a Slave.
Twelve Years a Slave wins Best Picture
Even though the director of 12 Years of Slave, Steve McQueen, did not win the Oscar for Best Director, he did become the first Black producer to win Best Picture when the 2013 movie took home the top prize at the 86th Academy Awards.
Ava DuVernay’s Selma nominated for Best Picture
Although an Oscar win has fleeted Ava DuVernay, she’s still made history. The veteran director became the first Black woman to have her film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 2015 for her film Selma.
Denzel becomes the most nominated Black actor
Already one of the greatest actors of all time, Denzel became the most nominated Black actor in history in 2016 after he was nominated for his role in the 2016 film Fences.
Moonlight steals the show
“Moonlight” wins Best Picture | 89th Oscars (2017)
No history was necessarily made here, but this was just an all-time Oscar moment for how awkward it was. Althought Moonlight was correctly awarded Best Picture, the presenters incorrectly said La La Land won instead in 2017. Just watch the above clip and you can see the chaos that ensued.
Record seven Black people win Oscars in 2019
“BlacKkKlansman” wins Best Adapted Screenplay
“I’m rooting for everybody Black,” was in full effect this year as a record seven Black people won awards at the 2019 Oscars, passing the record that was previously made in 2017. The Black winners included Regina King and Mahershala Ali, who both won in their respective supporting actor categories in If Beale Street Could Talk and Green Book respectively, Spike Lee, who won his first Oscar for co-writing BlacKklansman, Kevin Willmott, who co-wrote BlacKklansman, production designer Hannah Beachler and costume designer Ruth Carter won Oscars for Black Panther and Peter Ramsey won an award after Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won Best Animated Feature.
Viola Davis becomes the most nominated Black actress
Viola Davis has often been snubbed as a nominee and winner during the Oscars, most notably this year, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t enjoyed success on the Oscar stage. In 2020, she was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, making her the most nominated Black actress in history, joining her Fences co-star, Denzel Washington.
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