Entertainment
Black Firsts in Entertainment & Arts
From Hattie McDaniel's groundbreaking Oscar to Toni Morrison's Nobel Prize, these artists and performers opened doors across film, television, literature, and music.
7 firsts documented
entertainment 1940 Who Was the First Black Person to Win an Oscar? Hattie McDaniel Won Best Supporting Actress for Gone with the Wind, accepting her award at a segregated ceremony in Los Angeles. entertainment 1964 Who Was the First Black Man to Win Best Actor? Sidney Poitier Won for Lilies of the Field, also the first Black actor to become a top box-office draw in Hollywood. entertainment 2002 Who Was the First Black Woman to Win Best Actress? Halle Berry Won for Monster's Ball, giving a tearful speech referencing all the Black women who paved the way before her. entertainment 1919 Who Was the First Black Feature Film Director? Oscar Micheaux Produced The Homesteader and went on to direct more than 44 films, often funding and distributing them independently. entertainment 1950 Who Was the First Black Person to Win a Pulitzer Prize? Gwendolyn Brooks Won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Annie Allen, later named U.S. Poet Laureate. entertainment 1993 Who Was the First Black Woman to Win the Nobel Prize in Literature? Toni Morrison Author of Beloved and Song of Solomon, one of the most influential writers in American history. entertainment 1960 Who Was the First Black Person to Win an Emmy? Harry Belafonte Won for his CBS special Tonight with Belafonte, also a major civil rights activist who funded early marches.