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Oscar Micheaux
Oscar Micheaux is the first independant black American director. In more than 40 films, he shows intelligent and brave black characters during a harsh period for black people in Hollywood. Therefore, he struggled against the stereotypes by imposing himself at that time. -
First African American who won an Academy Award
Hattie McDaniel won this Academy Award thanks to her role as "Mammy" in the movie "Gone With the Wind". However, she was controversial for accepting demeaning roles.
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Popular films wich were release with a black cast
The actress and singer Lena Horne of "Stormy Weather" and "Cabin in the Sky", she became a pioneer for the representation of black women in the Hollywood's movies. Her role was one of the main because she declines the domestic's roles in order to stop the stereotypes. She is now a symbol of elegance, talent and black pride.
She is also the first African American to sign a long-term contract with the huge MGM's studio. -
The first black women nominated for best actress Oscar
Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for her role "Carmen Jones". Unfortunately, due to racism in Hollywood, her career was limited despite her talent. -
First black women to lead a network serie
From 1968 to 1971, Diahann Carroll became the first African American woman to play a main role in an American networks serie called "Julia" on the channel NBC. This role marks a break about the stereotypes of the black women at the TV.
Until to 1971, after 3 seasons, this take an end and become historic.
She has proved that a black actress can handle a national TV's serie. -
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The Golden Era
During this time, studios began to finance many African Americans projects because they have an economic weight in the movie, the TV or the music. Productions are not only for the community anymore, but for the mainstream.
The first big-budget films starring black actors with a worldwide success were released. For example, Whoopi Goldberg become a supertsar thanks to her role in The Color Purple in 1985, Ghost in 1990 or Sister Act in 1992. -
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No more money spent on black movies
Unlike the 80's an the beggin of the 90's, the end of the 90's are more complicated for black actors. Indeed, producers stopped financing this kind of movie. -
Strong leading role
This date marks the return of films focusing on the lives of black characters. black actors and actresses get important and varied roles.
In the same time, the famous actress Halle Berry portrayed the life of Dorothy Dandridge in a biopic. It shows the place that black actresses were taking. -
Oscar for best lead actress
In 2002, Halle Berry became the first and still the only one to win th Oscar for best lead actress thanks to her role in Monster's Ball.
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#OscarSoWhite
In January 2015, April Reign, a former American lawyer, launched the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite on Twitter after noticing that all the 20 last actors nominated for Oscars were white. The message went viral, symbolizing the fight for better representation of minorities in the film industry.
She criticizes the very white and male composition of the Oscar Academy and calls for a profound cultural change in Hollywood, using the power of social networks to bring pressure to bear. -
Mudbound and the Oscars
Dee Rees, the realisator of the film Mudbound, became the first black woman nominated at the oscar for best adapted screenplay.
Moreover, in the same movie, the singer and actress Mary J. Blige became the first to be nominated twice in the same year.
Mudbound received the Hollywood Breakout Ensemble Award.
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Black Panther
With a cast almost entirely black, the movie Black Panther produced by Ryan Coogler has carved out a place for itself among the greatest films of all time.
The representation of black people in this movie is revolutionary because black characters are heroes, scientists, warriors... Women also have an important place in this society.
This movie has a huge cultural impact in our world by breaking down many stereotypes.