A Century of Black Cinema Part 2
Whilst Hattie McDaniel played the cliched role of the maid in Gone with the Wind in 1939, she injected huge personality into the part and won great affection for her portrayal. Not only was she the first black woman to sing on American radio, she was also the first black performer to win an Oscar.
Sidney Poitier was the first prominent black film star. In 1967 Poitier hit his peak: In the Heat of the Night, To Sir with Love and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner all came out that year. He won the Oscar for Lilies of the Field in 1963.
