Hattie McDaniel`s Best Supporting Actress Victory Speech In 1940 For Gone With The Wind.
In the year 1940, African-American actress Hattie McDaniel she was the first black person to win an Academy Award. McDaniel won the best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in the film “Gone With The Wind.” The studio wrote Ms. McDaniel’s speech, she was not allowed to sit with her white co stars, and she was forced to sit at the back of the room by the kitchen.
Ms. McDaniel she had to enter the room from the back entrance for the ceremony she was not permitted to enter from the front entrance.
Hattie McDaniel she was a victim of racism and sexism during her lifetime. I think younger black people we do not understand the incredible injustice our elders went through. Hattie McDaniel she was an incredible black woman she had grace, class, dignity.
Ms. McDaniel she was popular, she had many friends in Hollywood and hosted parties at her mansion. In fact, some of Ms. McDaniel’s friends were A list Hollywood superstars Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis they loved Hattie. In fact, Clark Gable threatened to pull out of the Atlanta premiere for “Gone With The Wind” because Georgia Jim Crow laws discriminated against Hattie McDaniel.
Mr. Gable he was furious, he really cared about Hattie McDaniel. McDaniel was respected by her peers.
Ms.McDaniel’s victory was important but it was also very controversial. For instance, the NAACP was very upset that McDaniel won because her charactrer “mammy” was viewed by many blacks as conforming to racist and sexist stereotypes about black women.
Of course, Ms. McDaniel she was cognizant of the racism and sexism against black women. However, in the 1940s there weren’t a lot of career opportunites for black women since America was so racist and sexist.
Ms. McDaniel she had a lot of class and dignity and she rose above the incredible racial oppression during her lifetime.
For instance, the N word was in the original script for “Gone With The Wind” but McDaniel forced the studio to remove the offensive N words from the script.
The real Hattie McDaniel, she actually was a very refined and dignifed woman. In fact, McDaniel did fight against racial oppression in Hollywood. For instance, McDaniel fought against her racist neighbours they wanted her Los Angeles neighbourhood to remain segregated. Ms. McDaniel organized with other African Americans property owners against her racist neighbours. Ms. McDaniel she took her case to the Supreme Court and won!
In the 1940s, Hollywood was very racist against black actors the quality of the film roles were demeaning. For instance, black actors during the 1940s were segregated into taking on racist and demeaning roles as just maids, butlers, and servants.
McDaniel made a famous comment about the controversy she said “I would rather be paid $700 dollars a week to play a maid than be one.”
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