Black Actors and The Oscars

Awards don't seem to legitimize much for Black directors. Take the Academy Awards for example. To date, there have only been three Black directors ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. John Singleton and Lee Daniels both lost, but I doubt an Oscar could legitimize their careers more than they already have. Although Singleton's latest films can't compare to his classics like Boyz N the Hood, Higher Learning, Poetic Justice, he undoubtedly established a successful career in the film industry even though he didn't walk away victorious. Same could be said for Lee Daniels as well. Before his second time directing in Precious he had already established himself as a producer and since his first Oscar nomination, he's directed two successful films, both filled with famous casts (The Paper Boy and The Butler). 

As for acting, such awards could very well legitimize something, but I think it depends on who the actor. For example, take the win of Hattie McDaniel—the first ever Black actor to be nominated for an Academy Award— in the Best Supporting Actress category in 1939 for Gone With the Wind. In her awards speech, she spoke of how humbling the award was and how she hoped she could forever be a credit to her race and the film industry. She then claimed the award would be something she used in the future to motivate her. Since then, thirteen Black actors have taken home Oscars in the top four acting categories. Four of them were Best Supporting Actress winners just like Hattie McDaniel. I believe this award does and should mean more than simply a job well done. When Hattie McDaniel won the award the Civil Rights Movement was still fifteen years down the road. It was a testament not only to her career as an actress, but to her moving performance and how she was able to break racial borders through portraying a character. 

As for male actors like Forest Whitaker or Denzel Washington, I think awards like Oscars are simple remnants to further remember some of already memorable work. By that I mean their performances would still be outstanding even if they didn't win. Before Forest Whitaker's Best Actor win for The Last King of Scotland in 2006, he was working with directors like Clint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, and Jim Jarmusch, even directing a few films along the way. Although Washington's career was sort of jump started by his Supporting Actor win in Glory, his career really does speak for itself without any necessity for more Oscar gold. The Hurricane or Malcom X like we discussed in class, Philadelphia, or He Got Game—these films established him as an actor with range. His previous award got him in the spotlight, and his talent and work ethic kept him there. Awards seemingly mean so much, but some of the best actors and directors to work in film have been annually left out of awards season. To some, awards might be the best representation of success. In other situations, it could be quite different.