Check out Soror Hattie McDaniels on Aug. 7

TRSimon · #1 08-07-2001, 05:01 PM

Sorors and Sisterfriends:

Be sure to check out the documentary on Soror McDaniels' life on American Movie Classics at 10pm EDT. It will be narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.

Hattie McDaniels was the first African-American to win the Academy Award. She was also a charter member of Sigma Sigma Chapter, Los Angeles and worked hard to advance her people's quest for equal treatment in society.

SeriousSigma22 · #2 08-08-2001, 08:53 AM

Did anyone get to see the biography about the late Soror Hattie McDaniels on Aug. 7, 2001? Was it informative? Will they re-air this show at a later date?

PenguinTrax · #3 08-08-2001, 10:34 AM

I watched a good portion of the broadcast last night. Unfortunately, I was pooped and fell asleep on the couch. I thought they did a wonderful job with the show and very much highlighted the struggles of black actors, not only at that time, but as her career progressed.

Next showing:
10:00 Sunday, August 26
5:30 Monday, September 17

Barbara
ZTA Alumna
Rush Forum Moderator

CelestialBlu1 · #4 08-18-2001, 10:26 PM

i missed it...but i'll be sure to catch it on the 26th...i dig informative programs like that...little do some know what added kinds of struggles entertainers of color go through to achieve accolades and it is really cool to see how despite obstacles...women like hattie, dorothy, lena, and hazel scott achieved history making successes...

[This message has been edited by CelestialBlu1 (edited August 18, 2001).]

TRSimon · #5 08-21-2001, 06:41 PM

I saw the biography. It was inspirational but definitely had its tragic side. While Soror McDaniel fought to make her roles as dignified as possible and even insisted on removal of the n-word from the Gone With the Wind scipt, she became a casualty of the civil rights movement. For her, she felt there were two alternatives, be a maid on film or be one in real life. Unfortunately, because of her popularity in the roles, she had to maintain a dangerous weight as part of her contract. This deeply affected her health in later years.

It is very sad that the NAACP director at the time felt it necessary to constantly and publicly humiliate and attack Hattie McDaniel while he pushed the interests of the "paper bag" coalition. Why not attack the studios and directors and the system which forced those who were not Lenas or Dorothys into the maid category?

Hattie McDaniel also won a landmark housing case in Los Angeles when white neighbors tried to force her and other blacks from their beautiful, expensive homes. She was a pioneer in many ways. She fought hard to advance the cause of her people, both onscreen and off.

The special was pretty detailed, but it just touched briefly on some aspects of her career and life. There was much more to her than Mammy. Yet the role and its consequences defined her image and haunted her for the rest of her life.

Imperial11 · #6 08-26-2001, 12:02 PM

I just watched the special on AMC. Hattie McDaniels was very extraordinary. It was a very informative special and I hope that everyone gets an opportunity to catch it. I was very disturbed by the public backlash that Ms. McDaniels received for her "MAMMY" roles. People should have just realized that in that day and age, black entertainers did what they had to do in order to work.