Hattie McDaniel's Oscar Acceptance Speech

Greetings all, As I spend the weekend putting the finishing touches on a web course on the Reconstruction Era, I am reminded of this moving speech by film star Hattie McDaniel, the first black person ever to be awarded the Academy Award. In the course, the final segment engages history and popular culture - in particular the film, Gone With the Wind. I focus on McDaniel's portrayal of Mammy as well as a few notes on the actress herself. She was a fascinating woman off screen - a outspoken supporter of civil rights, she once lobbied the city of Los Angeles to purchase a home in an exclusive all-white neighborhood. Please take a moment to watch this clip - what does it suggest to you about race, historical memory, and Hollywood in 1940?

With compliments,

Keith

PS - the course will be live the week of January 18, 2016