Life and achievements
Early life
On June 10, 1893, Hattie McDaniel entered the world in Wichita, Kansas as the daughter of formerly enslaved parents. Henry McDaniel served as a Civil War veteran, and Susan Holbert performed gospel music. She was the last of 13 children who spent her childhood in a family environment that prioritized music and storytelling. The child McDaniel relocated with her family to Colorado, first in Fort Collins before settling in Denver, where she finished high school at Denver East High School.
McDaniel displayed innate singing abilities and performing skills since her youth. The school poetry contest awarded her with a gold medal, showcasing her ability to perform on stage and her confident demeanor. During the early 1900s, McDaniel joined minstrel groups, which allowed her to build skills in comedic delivery and vocal performance. During that era, minstrelsy performances offered limited entertainment opportunities to Black performers despite maintaining racial stereotypes.
McDaniel joined George Morrison’s Melody Hounds musical group in the 1920s to perform alongside the Black ensemble. The United States welcomed its first radio performance by a Black female singer through her voice. McDaniel's music industry became successful when she began recording blues songs for both Okeh Records and Paramount Records. During the Great Depression, McDaniel needed to find alternative employment because she worked as a washroom attendant and in other positions. During her challenging times, she managed to perform at a Milwaukee club, which resulted in her relocation to Los Angeles in 1931.
When McDaniel arrived in Hollywood, she worked as a housekeeper while she attempted to secure roles in motion pictures. Her career in show business started when her brother secured her position on The Optimistic Do-Nut Hour radio program. Through exposure to the film industry, she received small acting parts before landing major roles next to Shirley Temple and Jean Harlow in the mid-1930s.
Legacy
Hattie McDaniel left behind a complex legacy that showed both her victories and her battles. After winning the Academy Award as the first Black person to do so, Hattie McDaniel received no substantial movie roles from Hollywood. The industry's racism denied her leading roles while she remained assigned to play subordinate parts.
McDaniel applied her acclaimed status to support Black actors and performers. The activist leader fought against housing restrictions that prevented Black people from living in white communities. The lawsuit she joined in Los Angeles enabled Black families to keep living in their homes.
Today, Hollywood recognizes McDaniel as the trailblazing figure who paved the way for Black actors in the industry. The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp featuring her in 2006, making McDaniel the first Black Oscar winner to receive this recognition. In 2010, she joined the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. The missing Oscar serves as a reminder of the obstacles she encountered, yet her significant contributions to the entertainment industry endure.
McDaniel's legacy continues to shine even though she died in 1952. Her bravery, remarkable skills, and unwavering drive opened opportunities for Black actors to continue pursuing their dreams in Hollywood.
Milestone moments
Jun 10, 1893
Birth of a Trailblazer
Hattie McDaniel entered this world in Wichita, Kansas, as her parents, who had been enslaved, had thirteen children, including her.
Hattie McDaniel's early musical and performing interests developed from her father, Henry McDaniel, who served in the Civil War, and her mother, Susan Holbert, who sang gospel music.
Living in racially segregated America during her childhood years developed McDaniel's ability to overcome obstacles, as she was determined to succeed in show business.
She attended high school in Denver and won a gold medal for poetry recitation, which demonstrated her innate performing abilities.
McDaniel maintained her focus on entertainment by performing in minstrel shows and local theatres even though she faced financial difficulties, which became the basis for her future achievements.
The cultural environment of her childhood home equipped McDaniel with essential talents, enabling her to overcome racial restrictions in the entertainment field during her era.
The early arts exposure in her life would later make Hattie McDaniel an influential Black actress in Hollywood's history.
Jul 15, 1920
First Black Woman to Sing on the Radio
McDaniel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the initial African American female radio singer through her work with George Morrison’s Melody Hounds touring musical group.
Her powerful voice attracted listeners making her a promising talent in the developing music business.
At this time, she recorded blues songs for both Okeh Records and Paramount Records, which earned her praise for her emotional vocal abilities.
The racial discrimination of the time did not stop McDaniel from securing entertainment opportunities because her exceptional talent enabled her to break through the limited opportunities that Black performers faced.
The Great Depression economic crisis compelled her to work multiple jobs, including becoming a washroom attendant at a nightclub.
She demonstrated unwavering determination, which convinced the club owner to let her perform. This restarted her career and led her to Los Angeles for acting pursuits.
She demonstrated strong commitment and perseverance by shifting from being an artist in distress to becoming a Hollywood hopeful who aimed to break racial barriers.
Aug 19, 1934
Hollywood Breakthrough
The first major film appearance of Hattie McDaniel came in Judge Priest under director John Ford, with Will Rogers as the leading actor.
Aunt Dilsey was her character in this film, and she demonstrated her talent for making the screen shine with botanic timing and a strong-willed presence as a maid.
The movie role brought further opportunities in Hollywood, but she received primarily roles as housekeepers because of prevailing racial misconceptions about Black actors.
In the mid-1930s, McDaniel led film productions featuring Shirley Temple, Jean Harlow, and Clark Gable.
She brought authentic character and individuality to stereotypical roles, making her the most visible African-American actress in the Hollywood film industry.
Her membership in the Screen Actors Guild was a major development in legitimizing Black performers in the film industry during this period.
Her increasing role in Hollywood was a foundation for securing her future Academy Award victory.
Feb 28, 1940
First Black Person to Win an Oscar
McDaniel achieved historical significance when she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
The victory brought professional achievement and emotional pain because she had to eat at a separate segregated table during the Oscars ceremony.
Her groundbreaking Oscar win did not bring better opportunities in Hollywood because the industry kept assigning Black actors to one-dimensional roles.
The deep emotional connection between viewers and McDaniel's acceptance speech came from her declaration to be "a credit to [her] race."
Hollywood reached a crucial moment with her Oscar victory because it proved Black performers could win top honours regardless of racial limitations.
The award brought national attention, making her a representation of African American triumphs and their ongoing obstacles.
McDaniel established a path for future generations of Black performers, even though it took many years for another Black actress to receive an Oscar.