In its 94-year history, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has awarded one of the industry’s most coveted acting awards, the Oscar, to just 10 black women. This year, actor Angela Bassett could become her 11th name on that shortlist, continuing her legacy that began with pioneering performer and Hollywood legend Hattie McDaniel in 1940. I have.
Bassett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, the same category that McDaniel won for the 1939 film adaptation. Gone with the wind. McDaniel’s story has become synonymous with the long and complicated battle in Hollywood to give black performers’ careers fair consideration and proper respect. It’s a pursuit that represents an unseen reality, often overlooked in moments of triumph and hope, like McDaniel’s Oscar win.
