Hattie McDaniel was born on June 10, 1895, in Wichita, Kansas. Initially a singer, songwriter, and comedian in vaudeville and radio, she gained fame as Mammy in the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind," winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1940, making her the first African American to win an Oscar and she willed her Oscar to Howard University. Despite this milestone, she faced racial segregation, being barred from the film's premiere and seated at a segregated table at the Oscar ceremony. After her Oscar win, McDaniel found herself typecast, often playing the roles of maids or servants. Hollywood's stereotypical view of Black characters restricted her to roles that didn't fully showcase her talent. Yet McDaniel's legacy in American cinema endures despite her passing on October 26, 1952.