There is much debate in the black community over the segregation-era movie “The Help.” But most African-Americans still hoped that the star of the movie, Viola Davis, would win the Oscar for best actress.
So there is widespread disappointment after Davis lost the Academy Award to Meryl Streep. There’s also some relief that Davis’ role as a maid — which some view as stereotypical — was not honored.
Robinne Lee, a black actress in such films as “Seven Pounds” and “Hotel for Dogs,” is one of those disappointed Oscar watchers. She says there was a lot of excitement about Davis’ chance to become only the second black woman to be named best actress. But Lee also is eager to see more diverse movie casts in a wider variety of roles.
Before Sunday’s ceremony, only 13 black actors had won Oscars in the 84-year history of the Academy Awards.
Here are the black actors who have won Academy Awards after Sunday’s ceremony:
Best ActorSidney Poitier, 1963, “Lilies Of The Field”
Denzel Washington, 2001, “Training Day”
Jamie Foxx, 2004, “Ray”
Forest Whitaker 2006, “The Last King of Scotland”
Best Actress
Halle Berry, 2001, “Monster’s Ball”
Best Supporting ActressHattie McDaniel, 1939, “Gone With The Wind”
Whoopi Goldberg, 1990, “Ghost”
Jennifer Hudson, 2006, “Dreamgirls”
Mo’Nique, 2009, “Precious”
Octavia Spencer, 2011, “The Help”
Best Supporting ActorLouis Gossett, Jr., 1982, “An Officer and A Gentleman”
Denzel Washington, 1989, “Glory”
Cuba Gooding Jr., 1996, “Jerry Maguire”
Morgan Freeman, 2004, “Million Dollar Baby”
