In the Academy’s 94-year history, very few Oscars have been given to Black actors and directors but seeing the tides changing is definitely commendable.
The works and efforts of black actors is been recognized and these wins are just the beginning. So here is a list of black stars who have lifted the flag high by winning Oscars at different points in their career;
Will Smith – 2022
Having been nominated severally, the third time was the charm for Will Smith, as he finally took home an Oscar for Best Actor for his leading role in King Richard after two prior nominations.
Ariana DeBose – 2022
DeBose’s win is definitely historic as she became the first openly queer, Afro-Latina actress to win in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Anita in West Side Story.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – 2022
Unlike others who have been nominated but did not win or won on thei second or third nomination, Questlove brought home the Oscars on his first nomination, the iconic DJ won for Best Documentary Feature for Summer of Soul.
Daniel Kaluuya – 2021
The handsome black actor took home the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his moving portrayal of Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.
READ ALSO: Oscars 2022: All The Winners At This Year’s Academy Awards
Tyler Perry – 2021
The ever-talented actor, producer, and Oscars finally won an Oscar in 2021 as he accepted a special award for his outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes.
H.E.R. – 2021
The songstress won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah, adding to the critically acclaimed drama’s list of awards the movie bagged that evening.
Travon Free – 2021
Travon took home Oscar gold for Best Live Action Short Film for Two Distant Strangers, a short that examines the harsh reality of Black men’s police encounters, starring Joey Badass.
Jon Batiste – 2021
The singer and musician won an Oscar for his work on Disney’s Soul, the Best Original Score and he definitely deserved it.
Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver – 2020
This duo followed in Kobe Bryant’s big footsteps, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for their adorable (and tear-jerking) short Hair Love, narrated by Issa Rae.
Spike Lee – 2019
Though difficult to believe, Spike Lee won his first-ever Oscar for his screenwriting work on BlacKKKlansman, winning Best Adapted Screenplay at the 91st Annual ceremony. A lot of people are still waiting for his amazing directorial skills to be recognized.
Regina King – 2018
The screen goddess won her first-ever Oscar award for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her role in If Beale Street Could Talk.
Mahershala Ali – 2016, 2018
In the face of Donald Trump’s proposed Muslim ban, Mahershala Ali became the first man of Islamic faith to win an Academy Award, snagging Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Moonlight. He also won Best Supporting Actor in 2018 for his role in the controversial film, Green Book.
Kobe Bryant – 2018
Kobe Bryant whose memory will forever live in the heart of millions became the first professional athlete to win an Oscar for his film, Dear Basketball. It took home the trophy for Best Animated Short.
Jordan Peele – 2018
Jordan Peele nabbed his golden trophy for Best Original Screenplay thanks to his thriller Get Out, and he is also the first black to do so.
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Tarell Alvin McCraney and Barry Jenkins – 2017
Screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney and writer/director Barry Jenkins took home Oscar gold for their moving examination of Black manhood, masculinity, and love, Moonlight. Their critically acclaimed film won Best Picture at the 2017 ceremony.
Viola Davis – 2017
Viola Davis is the first Black actress to score three Oscar nods. She won Best Supporting Actress for Fences.
Common & John Legend – 2015
Common and John Legend earned an Oscar for Best Original Song for Glory from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic, Selma.
Lupita Nyong’o – 2013
The Kenyan actress earned the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role award for 12 Years a Slave at the 2014 Oscars.
Steve McQueen – 2013
McQueen made history as the first Black producer to win Best Motion Picture for 12 Years A Slave.
John Ridley – 2013
Ridley became the second African-American to win in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for the movie 12 Years a Slave, adapted from the memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
Octavia Spencer – 2012
Octavia Spencer is the fifth Black actress to win in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Minnie Jackson in the film The Help.
T. J. Martin – 2012
T.J. Martin became the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2012 for Undefeated, a documentary he co-directed about the Manassas Tigers football team of Memphis.
Roger Ross Williams – 2010
Williams was the first Black person to win Best Documentary Short Subject for the 2009 documentary Music By Prudence.
Mo’Nique – 2009
Comedienne Mo’Nique won the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Mary Lee Johnston in the critically acclaimed film Precious.
Geoffrey Fletcher – 2009
Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African-American to win in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for the film Precious, adapted from the novel “Push” by Sapphire.
Forest Whitaker – 2006
Whitaker took home a Best Actor award for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the biopic The Last King of Scotland.
Jennifer Hudson – 2006
Hudson’s big-screen debut as Effie White in Dreamgirls earned her a Best Supporting Actress award. The Oscar win was the first for a Black actress in a musical film.
Three 6 Mafia – 2005
The trio made history in 2005 when they became the first rappers to win an Oscar for the song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from the movie Hustle & Flow.
Morgan Freeman – 2004
This movie legend won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris in the boxing movie Million Dollar Baby. Freeman was 67 when he won this Oscar becoming the oldest Black actor to earn the award.
Jamie Foxx – 2004
Foxx’s portrayal of R&B icon Ray Charles in the biopic Ray earned him a Best Actor award in 2005. Just like Jennifer Hudson on the flip side Foxx became the first Black actor to win for a musical.
Denzel Washington – 2002 and 1989
The seasoned actor is the only Black actor to boast of two Academy Awards. His first win was for Best Supporting Actor in 1989 for Glory. His second was for Best Actor for his role as corrupt detective Alonzo Harris in the 2001 cop drama Training Day.
Halle Berry – 2001
Berry continues to be the only Black actress to take home the Best Actress award for her role as Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 film Monster’s Ball.
Cuba Gooding Jr. – 1996
Winning an Oscar at 29, Gooding Jr. became the youngest Black actor to win Best Supporting Actor, for his role as football player Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire.
Whoopi Goldberg – 1991
The second Black actress to win the award, Goldberg won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Oda Mae Brown in the 1990 classic Ghost.
Russell Williams – 1989, 1990
Williams is a two-time Oscar winner in the Best Sound category for Glory (1989) and Dances with Wolves (1990).
Willie D. Burton – 1988
Burton became the first African-American to win Best Sound in 1988. He won again in 2006 for Dreamgirls.
Herbie Hancock – 1987
Hancock was the first Black victor to take home an Oscar for Best Original Score for the American-French musical drama film Round Midnight.
Lionel Richie – 1985
The amazing singer whose songs remain evergreen won an Oscar in 1985 for the song Say You, Say Me from the movie White Nights.
Prince – 1984
The one and only Prince was the first Black winner of Best Original Song Score (which is different from Best Original Score category) for Purple Rain; this category was retired afterward.
Stevie Wonder – 1984
The iconic musician won an Oscar for I Just Called to Say I Love You from the movie, The Woman in Red.
Irene Cara – 1983
Cara won an Oscar for the song What a Feeling from the movie Flashdance, making her the first African-American woman to win a non-acting Academy Award.
Louis Gossett Jr. – 1982
Gossett Jr. was the first Black actor to win a Best Supporting Actor award, for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) opposite Richard Gere.
Isaac Hayes – 1972
Hayes was the first Black winner for Best Original Song for a tune that we still love today Shaft. Notably, he was also the first Black winner of any award other than in the acting categories.
Sidney Poitier – 1963
Poitier was the first Black actor to win a Best Actor award for his role as Horner Smith in the 1963 classic Lillies of the Field. Poitier also received a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 2002.
Hattie McDaniel – 1940
McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Oscar, and the first Black actress to win Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939). Back then Best Supporting Actresses were awarded plaques, not statuettes.
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