Who was the first African-American actor to win an Academy Award?

• A. Sidney Poitier
• B. Hattie McDaniel
• C. Denzel Washington
• D. Viola Davis

Answer: (A)

The first African-American actor to win an Academy Award was Hattie McDaniel. She achieved this historic milestone in 1940 for her role as Mammy in the film "Gone with the Wind." Her award was significant not only because she was the first African-American to win an Oscar, but it also highlighted the challenges and barriers faced by Black actors in Hollywood at that time. McDaniel's victory broke racial barriers and opened the door for future generations of Black performers.

While Sidney Poitier is a renowned actor who made significant contributions to the film industry and was the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1964 for "Lilies of the Field," he was not the first African-American to receive an Oscar. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis have also made history in their own rights, but neither of them were the first to achieve this recognition.