Hattie McDaniel in ‘Gone with the Wind’, United States, 1939, Victor Fleming, actors (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
The disappearance of Oscar of Hattie McDanielthe actress who gave life to Mammy in gone With the Wind, has always been one of the biggest mysteries that have surrounded Hollywood. The performer, who made history by becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award in 1939, donated her award to Howard University after her death from breast cancer in 1952, however, the institution never listed the object in His records and trace of such a precious gift were lost forever.
She never recovered, but the rumors about her possible fate did not offer anything clear and the Hollywood Academy did not raise the possibility of re-issuing the award, which in those years, for awards such as Best Supporting Actress, was a simple plaque with a small statue of the Oscar that had nothing to do with the usual and lavish golden symbols. And, according to his policy, Awards are not reissued if an Oscar is lost while it is in the care of someone other than the recipient.as happened in this case with Howard University.
In fact, when the Academy opened its museum in 2021 and saw the need to honor an achievement as important to its history and the African-American community as that of Hattie McDaniel, His decision was to place an empty display casean act that, as the institution declared in a report on the disappearance of the award for the medium Coloradoanalso represented a form of encourage visitors to “reflect on the treatment and omission of so many black artists throughout film history”.
Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), British actress, with her corset tightened by Hattie McDaniel (1892-1952), American actress, in an image from the film ‘Gone with the Wind’, 1939m drama, directed by Victor Fleming (1889-1949). (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
However, The Hollywood Academy has reconsidered its decision and has just announced that it will replace Hattie McDaniel’s Oscar, although not for the purpose of preserving it in its museum and serving as a tourist attraction, but rather to return it to Howard University, the institution where the actress wanted it to remain after her death. And we are talking about one of the most important institutions for the black community in the United States, where personalities of the stature of Chadwick Boseman, Toni Morrison o Kamala Harris.
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“Hattie McDaniel was an innovative artist who changed the course of cinema and impacted generations of artists who followed her,” said Jacqueline Stewart and Bill Kramer, director of the Museum and executive director of the Academy in a statement reported by media such as Variety. “We are delighted to present a replacement for Hattie McDaniel’s Academy Award to Howard University. “This momentous occasion will celebrate the remarkable artistry and historic victory of Hattie McDaniel.”
However correct the decision may be, calls into question the Academy itself and its questionable position of not having replaced the award until now. It is understandable that the Oscars are not reissued lightly, since their value would be called into question. Furthermore, the thesis they defended about representing the award with an empty display case to represent the mistreatment and omission towards the black community made sense in the context in which the McDaniel statuette is believed to have disappeared.
03/29/1941- New York: Stars at a charity event. Hattie McDaniel, who won an Academy Award for her role in the film “Gone with the Wind,” and Carol Bruce, star of the musical comedy, were among the celebrities who performed at the Greek War Relief at the Radio City Music Hall.
According to some theories, the Oscar trail was lost during the Black Power movement, the protests that in the ’60s began a fierce defense of the rights of black people, emphasizing racial pride and the promulgation of cultural policies and institutions. Howard University was one of its epicenters, so it is believed that the precious object could have been lost or stolen in the midst of the riots. However, we are talking about mere conjectures and rumors, with nothing being clear about whether the disappearance is related to this historical movement.
Thusthis meaning that the Academy wanted to spread with the empty showcase and the non-replacement of the Oscar was dilutedespecially valuing the story of the racist contempt that existed towards Hattie McDaniel at the moment of going on stage to receive his well-deserved award. If we remember, that ceremony took place in a hotel with racial segregation rules, where black people were not allowed to enter. The actress was allowed to attend the evening, but she was forced to sit in a back seat, away from the rest of the stars and her classmates. Gone With the Wind.
Thus, the representation of an empty display case had more negative than positive connotations, because seeing such an important award absent is much more relatable to the contempt experienced by McDaniel than to a message of racial vindication. And not only because of the treatment she experienced at the Oscars ceremony, but also because of Hollywood’s inability to vindicate the actress after making history and unclassifying her from the stereotypical roles of slave or domestic worker to which she was forced during his entire career. Luckily, things change, mistakes are corrected and Hattie McDaniel’s historic milestone will once again shine in all its splendor.
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2023-09-27 14:05:44
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