2. BLESSING: Hattie McDaniel
In 1940 Hattie McDaniel received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her memorable performance as Mammy in the iconic classic 'Gone With the Wind'. In doing so, she became the first African-American actor to receive an Oscar in the awards' 21 year history, breaking new ground in Hollywood. Her winning paved the way for future African-American Oscar winners (Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman), a legacy that is one of the most historic in the Academy. Although she never had a role as high profile as she did in 'Gone With The Wind', Hattie continued working in Hollywood films and later became a philanthropist before her untimely death from breast cancer in 1952
2. CURSE: Hattie McDaniel
Although she became a trailblazer for African-Americans by winning Best Supporting Actress in 'Gone With the Wind', the sweetest victory did not come without it's sour hardships. During the 1940 Academy Awards ceremony, while still under the curtain of segregation, McDaniel was forced to sit at a blacks only table, away from the rest of her co-workers from 'Gone With the Wind'. McDaniel only continued working in Hollywood films for 10 years, and the majority of the roles she landed were also the part of a domestic housekeeper she made so famous in 'Gone With the Wind', sadly the only type of role she could secure even after winning an Oscar.