- Target:
- Friends of Hattie
- Region:
- United States of America
In 1937, the Best Supporting Actor and Actress were first awarded. The winners received plaques instead of statuettes for the first seven years. After that according to the Academy's history, in 1943, all plaques were later replaced with statuettes.
Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win the role of Best Supporting Actress in 1939 for Mammy in Gone with the Wind received the award (plaque), but her plaque was never replaced with the statuette (Oscar). She donated her plaque to Howard University, but is was lost during the riots of the 1960's.
Because it is such an important historical artifact the Friends of Hattie believe that it is only right for the lost plaque to be replaced with a statuette as have been all other plaques. Plans have been made to house the award at the international headquarters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. McDaniel was a member and a part of the first graduate chapter, Sigma Sigma that was formed in Los Angeles who were instrumental in petitioning the Academy to nominate her.
We the undersigned hereby request that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grant the replacement of the plaque won by Hattie McDaniel in 1939 for her role of Best Supporting Actress in Gone With The Wind.
McDaniel's win was historic as the first for an African American and we think it only fitting that it be replaced as all other plaques have been.
We thank you for recognizing her extraordinary talent in a time of racial discrimination and we ask that you once again prove your dedication to fairness and racial harmony. Providing an Oscar statuette would represent a milestone in African American history in general and African American history in film in particular.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Give Hattie McDaniel an Oscar; Support the replacement of her plaque petition to Friends of Hattie was written by Toni Odom and is in the category Arts & Entertainment at GoPetition.