The question of who was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor is one that has sparked debate and discussion among film enthusiasts for decades. The answer to this question varies depending on how you define “first,” as there have been several African Americans who won the Oscar in different categories throughout history.
One notable example is Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African American to win an Academy Award when she received her third nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 4th Academy Awards ceremony in 1934. However, many consider it unfair to count her as the first African American to win an Oscar because she did not compete against white actors for the role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
Another contender is Sidney Poitier, who won his first Oscar for Best Actor in 1964 for his portrayal of John Shaft in the film “Shaft.” He went on to win another three Oscars over the next few years for roles in “Lilies of the Field,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
However, some argue that the real first-time winner should be Richard A. O’Herlihy, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony in 1927 for his work on “Daddy Long Legs.” Although he was Jewish, he was considered part of the “African-American” community due to his father’s German-Jewish ancestry.
Others believe that the first African American to win an Oscar should be Harry Belafonte, who won his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 25th Academy Awards ceremony in 1953 for his performance in “Oklahoma!” while playing the character of Billy Bigelow.
Ultimately, the answer to this question may never be definitively known until more information about the criteria used to determine who qualifies as the first African American to win an Oscar becomes available. In the meantime, these examples demonstrate the ongoing struggle for recognition and representation in Hollywood and beyond.
