There have been many influential African American women in the history of theater. Some women are more popular than others, however this one women started it all. Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940. McDaniel was also one of the first African American Females to be heard on radio, where she performed a song.
Hattie McDaniel, an African American Actress, born on June 10th, 1893 in Wichita Kansas. She was the fourteenth child by her parents Henry McDaniel, a Civil War veteran and Susan Holbert, a homemaker. Her father was also a Baptist preacher, her mom a singer in the same church, and McDaniel was a part of the choir. When she and her family moved to Colorado, in high school she began to professionally sing and dance. It was not until 1909, when she decided she wanted to accelerate her performing career she dropped out of school. By 1911, she designed an all women minstrel show, a series of skits, acts, and musical performances, with increased popularity after the U.S. Civil war (Kenrick). It was a little over 10 years later where she was invited to perform on the Devers’s KOA radio station making history. (Biography.com)
Hattie decided to take a big step to advance her acting career in 1931 by following her …show more content…
She has opened up a great amount of doors not only for African American females, but for males a well. Growing up developing her career she didn’t really have a substantial influence in the theater world, other than music by her mom. Her lack of influences were probably due to the lack of a great number of African American women in theater. This being my first time actually reading about her history, it has opened up my eyes on the early 20th century theater in the black community. She exemplified such pride in her work although it was seen as controversial. McDaniel’s work also tried to change the view of African Americans in the 1900s, by editing the actual
Hattie McDaniel, an African American Actress, born on June 10th, 1893 in Wichita Kansas. She was the fourteenth child by her parents Henry McDaniel, a Civil War veteran and Susan Holbert, a homemaker. Her father was also a Baptist preacher, her mom a singer in the same church, and McDaniel was a part of the choir. When she and her family moved to Colorado, in high school she began to professionally sing and dance. It was not until 1909, when she decided she wanted to accelerate her performing career she dropped out of school. By 1911, she designed an all women minstrel show, a series of skits, acts, and musical performances, with increased popularity after the U.S. Civil war (Kenrick). It was a little over 10 years later where she was invited to perform on the Devers’s KOA radio station making history. (Biography.com)
Hattie decided to take a big step to advance her acting career in 1931 by following her …show more content…
She has opened up a great amount of doors not only for African American females, but for males a well. Growing up developing her career she didn’t really have a substantial influence in the theater world, other than music by her mom. Her lack of influences were probably due to the lack of a great number of African American women in theater. This being my first time actually reading about her history, it has opened up my eyes on the early 20th century theater in the black community. She exemplified such pride in her work although it was seen as controversial. McDaniel’s work also tried to change the view of African Americans in the 1900s, by editing the actual