82nd Annual Academy Awards filled with historic firsts for women, coinciding with women's history month
Actress/Comedian/Night show host Mo'nique joined a short list of exceptional African American Academy Award winning actresses last night, becoming the fifth to do so 70 years after the first Oscar was awarded to Hattie McDaniel for her portrayal of a housekeeper in "Gone with the Wind." Award show co-host, Steve Martin joked that comedians don't win Oscars. Proving him and all others who doubted her ability wrong, in her acceptance speech Mo'nique, who played an abusive mother in "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire", clung to the Oscar and thanked The Academy for not engaging in backroom politics and Hattie McDaniels for paving the way. Fellow comedian Robin Williams presented the award to the 42-year-old.
In homage to McDaniel, Mo-Nique wore a white flower in her hair and a royal blue gown along with the other actresses associated with the movie (Gabriel Sidibe, Mariah Carey, even Oprah, one of the film's biggest supporters wore a blue dress) because that's the color McDaniel wore when she received the top prize in acting.
Other African American women to win in the supporting actress category are Jennifer Hudson for "Dreamgirls" (2006) and Whoopi Goldberg for "Ghost" (1990). Halle Berry was voted best actress for "Monster's Ball" in 2001.
Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African American to win an Oscar for his work on 'Precious.'
Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman in history to win an Oscar for Best Director last night for her film, The Hurt Locker.