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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." John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
In 1964, Sidney Poitier won best actor for "Lilies of the Field." Archive Photos/Getty Images
Louis Gossett Jr. poses in 1983 with his best supporting actor award for his role in "An Officer and a Gentleman."
Michael Mortfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Michael Mortfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Denzel Washington accepts his best supporting actor Oscar for the film "Glory" in 1990. Archive Photos/Getty Images
Her role in "Ghost" won Whoopi Goldberg a best supporting actress trophy in 1991. Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images
Cuba Gooding Jr. throws his Oscar into the air after being named best supporting actor for his role in "Jerry Maguire" in 1997. HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images
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." TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
2002 also saw Halle Berry win the best actress Oscar for "Monster's Ball." Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Jamie Foxx won best actor for "Ray" in 2005. Carlo Allegri/Getty Images
Morgan Freeman picked up the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "Million Dollar Baby" in 2005. Carlo Allegri/Getty Images
"The Last King of Scotland" star Forest Whitaker won best actor in 2007. AFP/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson won the best supporting actress Oscar for "Dreamgirls" in 2007. RICH SCHMITT/AFP/Getty Images
In 2009, Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her role in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Lupita Nyong'o won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2014 for her role in "12 Years a Slave." Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty Images
In 2017, director Ezra Edelman and producer Caroline Waterlow won best documentary feature award for "O.J. Made In America." MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Other 2017 African-American Oscar winners included Mahershala Ali, who won best supporting actor for "Moonlight." Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Viola Davis was also victorious in 2017, winning the award for best supporting actress in "Fences." MARK RALSTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The African-American screenwriting team Tarell Alvin McCraney and Barry Jenkins won best adapted screenplay for "Moonlight" in 2017. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
