Actress Hattie McDaniel, born June 10, 1893 in Wichita, Kansa, busted race barriers in Hollywood when she won an Oscar, becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award. She received the honor for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Mammy in Gone With The Wind.
She was not allowed to sit in the main room where the awards were being handed out because black people were not permitted. She was also not allowed to attend the premiere in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark Gable, a good friend of hers, threatened to boycott the premiere but Hattie convinced him to attend.
She passed away in October 1952 from breast cancer.
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