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Hattie McDaniel - Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to receive an Oscar. She won best actress in a supporting role as Mammy in 1939's "Gone with the Wind."(Photo: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

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Dorothy Dandridge - Dorothy Dandridge was the first Black actress to receive a nomination for a lead role, which was 1954's "Carmen Jones."(Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

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Sidney Poitier - Sidney Poitier was the first Black male actor to receive an Oscar nod in 1958 for "The Defiant Ones." Also, he is the first Black male to win an Oscar, which was for best actor in "Lilies of the Field" in 1963.(Photo: Archive Photos/Getty Images)

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Duke Ellington - Duke Ellington is the first African American to be nominated for best original score, which was 1961's "Paris Blues."(Photo: Don Perdue/Liaison)

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Rita Moreno - Rita Moreno is the first and only Latin American to win for best supporting actress, which was for 1961's "Westside Story."(Photo: Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Isaac Hayes - The late, great Isaac Hayes was the first African American to win in the best original song category due to 1971's "Theme from Shaft."(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Suzanne de Passe - Suzanne de Passe is the first Black nominee for best writing (original screenplay) for "Lady Sings the Blues" in 1972.(Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Diana Ross - Diana Ross is the first Black actress to receive a nod for best actress from a debut film performance (1972's "Lady Sings the Blues").(Photo: D. Kambouris/WireImage)

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Louis Gossett, Jr. - Louis Gossett, Jr. was the first Black actor to win best supporting actor, which was for 1982's "An Officer and a Gentleman."(Photo: Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Irene Cara - The only Black woman to date to win a non-acting Oscar, which was for best original song for 1983's "Flashdance (What a Feeling)."(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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Herbie Hancock - The only African-American to win best original score, which was for 1986's "Round Midnight."(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

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Prince - Prince is the first and only African American to win an Oscar for best original song score for "Purple Rain." The category has since been retired.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Denzel Washington - Denzel Washington is the first Black actor to receive two best supporting actor nominations -- 1987's "Cry Freedom" and 1989's "Glory."(Photo: MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

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Spike Lee - Spike Lee is the first African American to receive an Oscar nod for best documentary, which was 1997's "4 Little Girls." He shared the nomination with Samuel D. Pollard, who was the producer.(Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Clase Azul)

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John Singleton - For 1991's "Boyz n the Hood," Singleton was the first African American to be nominated for best director and is the youngest person to receive this nod -- he was only 23 years old at the time.(Photo: Getty Images)

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Queen Latifah - Queen Latifah is the first female hip-hop artist to be nominated for an Oscar.(Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

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Benicio del Toro - Benicio del Toro is the first and only actor to win an Oscar for a Spanish-speaking role. He was honored with best actor for 2000's "Traffic."(Photo: AMPAS/Getty Images)

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Halle Berry - Halle Berry is the first and only Black woman to receive an Oscar for best actress in a lead role, which was for "Monster's Ball" in 2001.(Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Getty Images,Getty Images

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Jamie Foxx - Jamie Foxx is the first Black actor to earn two nominations in the same year (2004's "Collateral" and "Ray").(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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Three 6 Mafia - Three 6 Mafia is the only hip-hop group to win an Oscar. They won for best original song for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from the movie "Hustle & Flow."(Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

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Dreamgirls - "Dreamgirls" was the first film with African-American nominees for best supporting actor (Eddie Murphy) and best supporting actress (Jennifer Hudson).(Photo: Michael Caulfield/WireImage)

Photo By Photo: Michael Caulfield/WireImage

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Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson is the first Black actress to win an Oscar for a debut film (2006's "Dreamgirls").(Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage)

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Lee Daniels - Lee Daniels is the first Black and openly gay man to receive best picture and best director nominations, which is for this year's "Precious."(Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage)