African-American actresses are continuing to make strides in Hollywood and the 86th Annual Academy Awards was a testament to that fact. With 12 Years a Slave snagging the award for Best Picture and flawless actress Lupita Nyong’o winning the award for Best Supporting Actress it was an amazing night for black hollywood. But Lupita is just the seventh black female to win an Academy Award, let’s take a look back at the outstanding black women who’ve gone home with the gold.
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Gone With the Wind actress Hattie McDaniel won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film. Hattie’s win made her the first black person to win an Academy Award.
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In 1991, Whoopi Goldberg won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the movie Ghost.
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Halle Berry was the first black woman to win Best Actress for her role in Monsters Ball.
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Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award in 2006 for her role in the musical film Dreamgirls. The American Idol alumni was the first black actor to win for a debut film performance.
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Mo’Nique took home to golden statue for Best Supporting Actress in the compelling film Precious.
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Octavia Spencer won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help.
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12 Years a Slave actress Lupita Nyong’o took home the gold for Best Supporting Actress. Congrats again Lupita!
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