WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.020 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.020 --> 00:00:06.600 align:middle line:84% Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:12.630 align:middle line:84% to get an Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. 00:00:12.630 --> 00:00:18.360 align:middle line:84% And that movie, which was done in 1939, and afterward in 1940, 00:00:18.360 --> 00:00:23.040 align:middle line:84% was really quite torn by controversy from all sides. 00:00:23.040 --> 00:00:27.180 align:middle line:84% There were those who thought that Hattie McDaniel should 00:00:27.180 --> 00:00:30.820 align:middle line:84% be playing a maid again, because she had played-- 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:32.830 align:middle line:84% well that was her only part offered 00:00:32.830 --> 00:00:36.040 align:middle line:90% to her most of her life. 00:00:36.040 --> 00:00:37.810 align:middle line:84% And there were those in the South 00:00:37.810 --> 00:00:43.815 align:middle line:84% who, in fact, refused to see the movie if the billboard had 00:00:43.815 --> 00:00:44.440 align:middle line:90% her name on it. 00:00:44.440 --> 00:00:46.060 align:middle line:84% So, you had both sides [INAUDIBLE].. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:49.100 align:middle line:90% 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:55.030 align:middle line:84% Now in 1940, when the Oscars were awarded, 00:00:55.030 --> 00:00:59.110 align:middle line:84% the ceremony took place actually at the Coconut Grove. 00:00:59.110 --> 00:01:01.220 align:middle line:84% And not one of these gigantic amphitheater 00:01:01.220 --> 00:01:02.680 align:middle line:90% sites they have nowadays. 00:01:02.680 --> 00:01:08.250 align:middle line:84% And the actors would be dropped off about a block beforehand, 00:01:08.250 --> 00:01:11.230 align:middle line:84% and then have to walk through their fans, 00:01:11.230 --> 00:01:13.116 align:middle line:90% or the detractors depending. 00:01:13.116 --> 00:01:17.980 align:middle line:90% 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:21.520 align:middle line:84% "Hattie McDaniel arrives at the Coconut Grove 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:24.550 align:middle line:90% late in aqua and ermine-- 00:01:24.550 --> 00:01:27.970 align:middle line:84% gardenia scaling her left sleeve in a spasm of scent, 00:01:27.970 --> 00:01:30.910 align:middle line:84% her gloves white, her smile chastened, 00:01:30.910 --> 00:01:33.100 align:middle line:84% purse giddy with stars and rhinestones 00:01:33.100 --> 00:01:35.410 align:middle line:84% clipped to her brilliantined hair. 00:01:35.410 --> 00:01:40.210 align:middle line:84% On her free arm that fine Negro, Mr. Wonderful Smith. 00:01:40.210 --> 00:01:41.530 align:middle line:90% It's a day that isn't. 00:01:41.530 --> 00:01:45.670 align:middle line:84% February 29th, at the end of the shortest month of the year-- 00:01:45.670 --> 00:01:47.020 align:middle line:90% and the shittiest too. 00:01:47.020 --> 00:01:49.210 align:middle line:84% Everywhere except Hollywood, California, 00:01:49.210 --> 00:01:51.550 align:middle line:84% where the maid can wear mink and still be a maid, 00:01:51.550 --> 00:01:54.640 align:middle line:84% bobbing her bandaged head and cursing the white folks 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.120 align:middle line:84% under her breath as she smiles and shoos their silly daughters 00:01:58.120 --> 00:01:59.950 align:middle line:90% in from the night dew. 00:01:59.950 --> 00:02:03.550 align:middle line:84% What can she be thinking of, striding into the ballroom 00:02:03.550 --> 00:02:06.310 align:middle line:84% where no black face has ever shown itself, 00:02:06.310 --> 00:02:09.680 align:middle line:90% except above a serving tray? 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:13.540 align:middle line:84% Hi-Hat Hattie, Mama Mac, her haughtiness, 00:02:13.540 --> 00:02:17.200 align:middle line:84% the little lady from Showboat whose name Bing forgot, 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:21.190 align:middle line:84% Beulah and Bertha and Malena and Carrie and Violet and Cynthia 00:02:21.190 --> 00:02:22.315 align:middle line:90% and Fidelia-- 00:02:22.315 --> 00:02:25.240 align:middle line:90% one half of the dark Barrymores. 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.030 align:middle line:84% Dear Mammy, we can't help but hug you, 00:02:28.030 --> 00:02:30.070 align:middle line:90% crawl into your generous lap-- 00:02:30.070 --> 00:02:32.260 align:middle line:84% tease you with arch innuendo, so we 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:36.010 align:middle line:84% can feel that much more wicked and youthful and sleek. 00:02:36.010 --> 00:02:39.250 align:middle line:90% But, oh, what we forgot. 00:02:39.250 --> 00:02:44.050 align:middle line:84% Before husbands, the phantom pregnancy, your famous parties, 00:02:44.050 --> 00:02:47.140 align:middle line:90% your celebrated ice box cake. 00:02:47.140 --> 00:02:50.110 align:middle line:84% Your giggle above the red petticoat's rustle. 00:02:50.110 --> 00:02:52.540 align:middle line:84% Black girl and white girl walking hand in hand 00:02:52.540 --> 00:02:55.210 align:middle line:84% down the railroad tracks in Kansas City-- 00:02:55.210 --> 00:02:57.040 align:middle line:90% six years old. 00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:59.950 align:middle line:84% The man who advised you, now that you were famous, 00:02:59.950 --> 00:03:03.790 align:middle line:84% to begin eliminating your more common acquaintances, 00:03:03.790 --> 00:03:07.670 align:middle line:84% and your reply catching him square in the eye-- 00:03:07.670 --> 00:03:09.200 align:middle line:90% that's a good idea. 00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:13.360 align:middle line:84% I'll start right now by eliminating you. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.610 align:middle line:90% Is she, or isn't she? 00:03:15.610 --> 00:03:17.620 align:middle line:84% Three million dishes, a truckload of 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:21.010 align:middle line:84% aprons and headrags later, and here you are. 00:03:21.010 --> 00:03:26.080 align:middle line:84% Poised between husbands and factions, no corset wide enough 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:29.130 align:middle line:84% to hold you in, your huge face a dark moon 00:03:29.130 --> 00:03:31.840 align:middle line:90% split by that spontaneous smile. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:34.810 align:middle line:90% Your trademark-- your curse. 00:03:34.810 --> 00:03:36.580 align:middle line:90% No matter, Hattie. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:40.900 align:middle line:84% It's a long beautiful walk into that flower-smothered standing 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:45.840 align:middle line:84% ovation, so go on and make them wait. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.000 align:middle line:90%