The screening last night of “From Mammie’s to Divas” was a delightful addition to our evening outings. In the film, the director discusses the lives and triumphs and trials of three popular stars: Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, and Hattie McDaniel. Hattie was a new personality to me. Of course, I had seen her as Mammie in Gone with the Wind, but I had never seen any information on her. I did not even know that she was the first African American (male or female) to win an Academy Award (best supporting actor for her role in GWTW). She seemed delightful and spunky. When criticized by the NAACP for her subservient roles such as Mammie, she responded that she had a right to play whatever role she chose. She is quoted as saying, “I’d rather make $700 a week playing a maid than make $7 a week being a maid.” However, she is also said to have stood up to the white film directors and insisting on some milder, less racial language in some instances. I look forward to learning more about her.
I came home last night and found several articles and books on Hattie McDaniel that I play to read. I also found a great, simple web site that will provide easy information for students. This site, called Hattie…What I Need You to Know, supports a musical play based on Hattie’s life. It offers a timeline of her life, discussion of her roles, and video clips from the musical. This is a quick and easy source for students. I don’t have much time to focus on actresses in my literature class, but I can use this as a quick reference for interested students.
-- Diane Weber
