Hattie McDaniel Accepted Historic Oscar at Hotel with Ban on Black People

February 20, 2023

*Hattie McDaniel won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Mammy” in the 1939 film “Gone with the Wind.” She had to accept her award in a segregated hotel in Los Angeles because at the time, the Ambassador Hotel, where the Oscar ceremony was held, had a strict “No Blacks’ Policy.

She also wasn’t allowed to attend the premiere of the movie due to racism and segregation. The state of California would not outlaw such racial discrimination until nearly 20 years later.

In her emotional acceptance speech, Haddie said: “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests, this is one of the happiest moments of my life. And I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards and for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble. And I will always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future.

“I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel. (Dabbing at her eyes, her voice cracks as she prepares to walk from the podium.) And may I say thank you and God bless you.”

In addition to acting in many films, McDaniel was a blues singer and radio performer. She appeared in over 300 films, but reportedly only received screen credits for only 83 due to Hollywood racism.

McDaniel also faced backlash from the Black community, including the NAACP, for taking on stereotypical maid or slave roles. She died in 1952 at age 57 of breast cancer.

In 2021 it was announced that Raven Goodwin had been tapped to star as McDaniel in a biopic that is reportedly still in development.

According to Shadow and Act, Goodwin, known for her roles in “Being Mary Jane” and the Clark Sisters biopic, will lead a film titled “Behind the Smile.” The project is set to be produced by Jami McCoy-Lankford of Hillionaire Productions and Global Genesis Group, with a screenplay by Gregory Blair.

Speaking about Goodwin joining the film, McCoy-Lankford previously told Deadline, “Raven Goodwin is such a phenomenal talent and a gift to this project. In our first meeting on Zoom, she already showed the kind of passion that is befitting such a complex and iconic character as Hattie McDaniel was.”

Rick Romano, President of Global Genesis Group added, “It’s exciting to be involved in telling the story of a woman who is a part of American history as well as movie history. Now, more than ever, in a still divisive time in our country’s relationship with race, the story of Hattie McDaniel is meaningful and current. Individuals such as Hattie McDaniel were trailblazers in their struggle for equality, and their stories need to be told for our country’s understanding of inclusiveness and tolerance. We are thrilled to have Raven Goodwin play Hattie McDaniel and provide an honest look into the triumphs and tragedies of her life.”