Hattie McDaniel’s Early Life and Struggles
Hattie McDaniel made history as the initial African American to secure an Oscar, portraying the character of Mammy, the servant, in the movie “Gone With the Wind.”
Born to a gospel singer and a Union Army veteran, Hattie McDaniel, throughout her extensive career, confronted racial challenges. Her journey encompassed singing the blues and participating in radio performances. Following the 1929 stock market crash, she faced difficulties and initially worked cleaning bathrooms at a club in the Milwaukee area. Eventually, the club owner relented and allowed her to showcase her talent on stage, leading her to become a regular performer.
Breaking Ground in Entertainment
McDaniel’s illustrious career extended to over 300 films, where she collaborated with various artists, including Paul Robeson, and shared the stage with a diverse range of performers from Jimmy Stewart to the Three Stooges.
Despite her comedic reputation, McDaniel auditioned for “Gone With the Wind” with the belief that she had little chance of securing the part. To her surprise, she appeared at the audition dressed in a genuine maid’s uniform and successfully landed the role. McDaniel felt a personal connection to the character, drawing from her grandmother’s experience working on a plantation similar to Tara, the setting of the film.
Hollywood’s Segregation and McDaniel’s Oscar Win
Despite delivering an outstanding performance, Hattie McDaniel faced the harsh reality of Georgia’s segregation laws, which prohibited her from attending the premiere of “Gone With the Wind” in Atlanta. When Clark Gable, one of the film’s stars, expressed a willingness to boycott the event in protest, McDaniel persuaded him to attend. While she missed the Atlanta premiere due to segregation restrictions, she did participate in the Hollywood screening of the film.
Upon receiving the Oscar, Hattie McDaniel expressed her gratitude to the audience, stating, “This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards, for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble; and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.”