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Brief
McDaniel (1895-1952) was the first Black person to win an Academy Award, receiving the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind" (1939). Despite her groundbreaking achievement, she faced significant racial discrimination throughout her career: She was barred from the film's premiere at the whites-only Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta and was forced to sit at a segregated table in a side room during the Academy Awards ceremony.
She was criticized by the NAACP and other Black advocacy groups for perpetuating racial stereotypes through her roles, particularly as mammies and maids. She famously defended her choices, reportedly saying "I'd rather play a maid than be one," noting that these roles allowed her to make a good living as an actor while helping to open doors in Hollywood.
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