The 7 Black Actresses Who Have Won Oscars

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Culture

The Oscars' lack of diversity has reared its ugly head for the second straight year, despite a breadth of roles to choose from in 2015. With no minority actors nominated in any of the acting categories, critics are recycling last year's #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, and celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith have even called for a boycott.

According to the Economist, black actors and actresses have fared the best in terms of Oscar nominations and wins in ratio to the U.S. population. Still, the number of wins by minority actors is low compared to white actors; in the Oscars' 87-year history, only seven black actresses have won an Oscar.

Read more: Academy Awards Announces Plan to Diversify Membership by 2020, Organization Says

1. Hattie McDaniel

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Role and film: Mammy, Gone With the Wind

Date: Feb. 29, 1940, 12th Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

2. Whoopi Goldberg

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Role and film: Oda Mae Brown, Ghost

Date: March 25, 1991, 63rd Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

3. Halle Berry

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Role: Leticia Musgrove, Monster's Ball

Date: March 24, 2002, 74th Academy Awards

Category: Best actress

4. Jennifer Hudson

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Role: Effie White, Dreamgirls

Date: Feb. 25, 2007, 79th Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

5. Mo'Nique

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Role: Mary Lee Johnston, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Date: March 7, 2010, 82nd Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

6. Octavia Spencer

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Role: Minny Jackson, The Help

Date: Feb. 26, 2012, 84th Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

7. Lupita Nyong'o

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Role: Patsey, 12 Years a Slave

Date: March 2, 2014, 86th Academy Awards

Category: Best supporting actress

Correction: Feb. 16, 2016