![Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Academy Award, snagging a best supporting actress Oscar in 1940 for her role as Mammy in "Gone With The Wind."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119110009-oscar-hattie-mcdaniel-restricted.jpg?q=w_4894,h_2753,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Academy Award, snagging a best supporting actress Oscar in 1940 for her role as Mammy in "Gone With The Wind."
![In 1964, Sidney Poitier won best actor for "Lilies of the Field."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119110126-oscar-sidney-poitier.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
In 1964, Sidney Poitier won best actor for "Lilies of the Field."
![Louis Gossett Jr. poses in 1983 with his best supporting actor award for his role in "An Officer and a Gentleman."<br />](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119110326-oscar-louis-gossett-restricted.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Louis Gossett Jr. poses in 1983 with his best supporting actor award for his role in "An Officer and a Gentleman."
![Denzel Washington accepts his best supporting actor Oscar for the film "Glory" in 1990.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119110750-oscar-denzel-washington.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Denzel Washington accepts his best supporting actor Oscar for the film "Glory" in 1990.
![Her role in "Ghost" won Whoopi Goldberg a best supporting actress trophy in 1991.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119110914-oscar-whoopi-goldberg-restricted.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Her role in "Ghost" won Whoopi Goldberg a best supporting actress trophy in 1991.
![Cuba Gooding Jr. throws his Oscar into the air after being named best supporting actor for his role in "Jerry Maguire" in 1997.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111221-oscar-cuba-gooding.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Cuba Gooding Jr. throws his Oscar into the air after being named best supporting actor for his role in "Jerry Maguire" in 1997.
![Denzel Washington became the first African-American to win two Oscars in the acting categories when he won best actor in 2002 for "Training Day."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111347-oscar-denzel-washington-2002.jpg?q=w_1497,h_842,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Denzel Washington became the first African-American to win two Oscars in the acting categories when he won best actor in 2002 for "Training Day."
![2002 also saw Halle Berry win the best actress Oscar for "Monster's Ball."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111530-oscar-halle-berry.jpg?q=w_2077,h_1169,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
2002 also saw Halle Berry win the best actress Oscar for "Monster's Ball."
![Jamie Foxx won best actor for "Ray" in 2005.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111808-oscar-jamie-foxx.jpg?q=w_2242,h_1261,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Jamie Foxx won best actor for "Ray" in 2005.
![Morgan Freeman picked up the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "Million Dollar Baby" in 2005.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111652-oscar-morgan-freeman.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Morgan Freeman picked up the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "Million Dollar Baby" in 2005.
!["The Last King of Scotland" star Forest Whitaker won best actor in 2007.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119111924-oscar-forest-whitaker.jpg?q=w_2054,h_1155,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
"The Last King of Scotland" star Forest Whitaker won best actor in 2007.
![Jennifer Hudson won the best supporting actress Oscar for "Dreamgirls" in 2007.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119112113-oscar-jennifer-hudson.jpg?q=w_2400,h_1350,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Jennifer Hudson won the best supporting actress Oscar for "Dreamgirls" in 2007.
![In 2009, Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her role in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160119112158-oscar-monique.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
In 2009, Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her role in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."
![Lupita Nyong'o won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2014 for her role in "12 Years a Slave."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160121074549-restricted-lupita-nyongo-oscars-file.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Lupita Nyong'o won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2014 for her role in "12 Years a Slave."
![In 2017, director Ezra Edelman and producer Caroline Waterlow won best documentary feature award for "O.J. Made In America."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/170226212416-10-oscars-show-2017.jpg?q=w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
In 2017, director Ezra Edelman and producer Caroline Waterlow won best documentary feature award for "O.J. Made In America."
![Other 2017 African-American Oscar winners included Mahershala Ali, who won best supporting actor for "Moonlight."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/170226205949-06-oscar-show-2017.jpg?q=w_2927,h_1647,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Other 2017 African-American Oscar winners included Mahershala Ali, who won best supporting actor for "Moonlight."
![Viola Davis was also victorious in 2017, winning the award for best supporting actress in "Fences."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/170226185600-viola-davis-win.jpg?q=w_3474,h_2316,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Viola Davis was also victorious in 2017, winning the award for best supporting actress in "Fences."
![The African-American screenwriting team Tarell Alvin McCraney and Barry Jenkins won best adapted screenplay for "Moonlight" in 2017.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/170227091431-barry-jenkins-and-tarell-alvin-mccraney.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1125,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
The African-American screenwriting team Tarell Alvin McCraney and Barry Jenkins won best adapted screenplay for "Moonlight" in 2017.