Halle Makes Oscar History - African American Culture

Guest Author - Stephanie L. Ogle

(AP Photo)
“Thank you my husband, who is just a joy of my life, and India, thank you for giving me peace because only with the peace that you´ve brought me have I been allowed to go to places that I never even knew I could go.” – Halle’s acceptance speech
The historical buzz about this years 74th annual Academy Awards began back when the nominations were announced. For the first time in Oscar history, 3 African-Americans were nominated in the Best Actress & Best Actor categories.

Halle Berry, who’s movie career has included her feature debut as a crack fiend in Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever”, a recovering drug addict that fights to regain custody of her young son in “Losing Isaiah”, a ghetto-fabulous, champagne-wishing, caviar dreaming hair stylist in “BAPS”, staring in & producing the Emmy winning portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in HBO’s “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” to super heroine in the “X-Men”. Halle has obviously shown diversity in her work as an actress.

In her first Oscar nominated role for “Monster’s Ball”, Halle portrays a widow of a death row inmate. She finds herself in an interesting romantic situation with an emotional romantic affair with a guard at the prison who executed her husband. The gripping drama is a thought provoking, emotional piece about love, loss, bigotry and everything in between.

With her winning the award for Best Actress, Berry was able to do something no other black actress in Oscar history was able to do. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated this winning moment to actresses before her (Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne & Diahann Carroll) and to current actresses that stand beside her in her fight for meaningful, challenging roles (Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett & Vivica Fox) “And it´s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”

As she heard her name called, the look of sincere shock was on her face. When she took the stage, holding that coveted gold statue, the emotion on her face made those watching in the audience well up with tears...as did I, which was an unexpected emotional reaction from me.

With the building drama towards the actual ceremony over & the excitement Oscar night now just a resonating memory, anticipation as to “what next” is more than likely in her mind just as much as it is in the minds of the movie-going public and critics. Whatever Halle Berry decides to do next, sincere well-wishes and support will follow her wherever that road will lead.