HOLLYWOOD\u2014In 1939, actress Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar after over a decade of dedication to her craft as an actress. Perhaps to young people today, that name doesn\u2019t mean anything to them and her accomplishments even less. Miss McDaniel was not only a famous face and name during her era, but she became the first African American to win an Academy Award. She won the award for her pivotal and beloved role as Mammy in the world\u2019s biggest motion picture in Hollywood\u2019s century-long history. That film was \u201cGone with the Wind.\u201d\u009d Miss McDaniel was even nominated that same year against her \u201cGWTW\u201d\u009d costar Olivia de Havilland, who portrayed Melanie in the category of Best Supporting Actress. Olivia de Havilland went on to win two Oscars for \u201cTo Each His Own\u201d\u009d in 1946 and \u201cThe Heiress\u201d\u009d in 1950, while like all other minorities at the time, Miss McDaniel\u2019s life was much tougher.\u00a0However, she never complained.<\/p>\n
Young people today have no real idea what extraordinary accomplishments women and men like Miss McDaniel made in an era that was not very welcoming to women or minorities. McDaniel was refused the right to purchase a home in Beverly Hills and many other districts within our city because of the color of her skin. She was even refused entry at her death to one of our most historical cemeteries because of her race. Miss McDaniel\u2019s attacks didn\u2019t just come from the broader non-minority community. Many civil rights leaders attacked her for always accepting roles as a maid in the films she did at the time. She was quoted as telling a very esteemed reporter from a black-owned magazine, \u201cI would rather play a maid, than be a maid, sir!\u201d\u009d McDaniel and many others are being honored later this month and there is an opportunity for you to meet them, so to speak.<\/p>\n