WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — In 1940, Wichita native Hattie McDaniel became the first Black performer to win an Oscar. This weekend, a Wichita event, Hattie McDaniel Day, recognized her work to change the representation of Black actors in Hollywood.
McDaniel portrayed Mammy in “Gone With the Wind” in 1939. The Internet Movie Database lists her as appearing in 97 movies and shows from 1930 to 1952.
On Saturday, the Kansas African American Museum and Tallgrass Film Association held a poem reading at the Hattie McDaniel History Marker, 925 N. Wichita Street, the site of her birthplace in Wichita.
Her grand-nephew and filmmaker, Kevin John Goff, read a poem he wrote about McDaniel several years ago: “Black Not Accepted.” The poem covers the struggles she faced against racism, including not being allowed to go to the premiere of “Gone With the Wind,” not being allowed to be buried in Hollywood, and more.
Yet McDaniel met those challenges with determination and generosity.
“The whole time she was in entertainment, and I’m sure even before, she was mentoring people, young men and women in the entertainment industry, outside of the entertainment industry, so she had a great effect on people,” Goff said. “She gave a lot of her time, charities – she gave her money and time, entertained the troops, going to World War II.”
Other sponsors of Saturday’s event were KMUW 89.1, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Gamma Chi, and Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter.
