Provided that “Happy” wins an Academy Award, Pharrell Williams might make (Black) history this weekend. On Sunday (March 2), Williams could become the sixth Black person to win a Best Original Song Oscar in the awards show’s 85-year history.
Like other coveted awards shows, the Oscars have been called out over a lack of diversity. Although winners of all races have taken home trophies, the annual ceremony continues to be dominated by mostly White nominees.
This year however is a little different. The range of Oscar-nominated films include some of the usual suspects (Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep) as well some lesser know acts. Predicted to win at least one trophy this go ’round is 12 Years A Slave, chronicling the life of Solomon Northup, a free man sold into slavery. Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is up for Best Actor for the lead role, Best Director could go to Steve McQueen, and current Hollywood it-girl Lupita Nyong’o may walk away with Best Supporting Actress. Of course voting shouldn’t be based on color versus merit, but the blackout in Hollywood isn’t something that can be ignored.
Black History Month is over, but here’s one more for the road. Check out 10 Black winners and nominees in the Best Original Song category.
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1969 -Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones and Bob Russell were the first Black people to be nominated in the Oscar’s Best Original Song category. They earned the nod for “The Eyes of Love” from the 1967 flick, Banning.
The next year, Jones and Russell became the second Black people to grab the Oscar category. They lost both times.
1971 – Isaac Hayes
The first Black person to win an Academy Awards for Best Original Song was the late Isaac Hayes for the theme to Shaft. He’s also the first Black Oscar winner to win an award in a non-acting category.
1981 – Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie got his first and only Best Original Song nomination for his Diana Ross duet “Endless Love.” Richie wrote and co-produced “Endless Love,” which is became the title track off the 1980 Brooke Shields romantic drama. “Endless Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for nine weeks, and became Ross’ biggest selling single, and the second most successful single of the year it was released.
1983 – Irene Cara
In 1983, Irene Cara picked up where Hayes left off by becoming the first Black woman to win a non-acting category. Cara won for “Flashdance What A Feeling.”
1985 – Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder snatched up an Oscar for “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” from the 1984 romantic comedy, The Woman in Red starring Gene Wilder.
1987 – Jonas Gwanga
South African jazz musician Jonas Gwanga landed an Oscar nod for “Cry Freedom” the title track from 1971 film about apartheid.
1993 – Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terri Lewis
Poetic Justice brought about a Best Original Song nomination for “Again” written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terri Lewis. They didn’t win but “Again” went platinum and topped the Billboard charts.
1995 -James Ingram
The song “Look What Love Has Done” (from the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Junior) gave James Ingram his second back-to-back Best Original Song nomination.
2005 -Three 6 Mafia
The first black rappers to win a Best Song Oscar was Theree 6 Mafia. The Memphis due won for “Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from the sweaty-pimp struggle story, Hustle & Flow. Three 6 also performed a gloriously awkward Oscar’s set featuring Taraji Henson’s on background vocals, and other things we didn’t expect.
2006 – Siedeh Garrett
The 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls gave Garrett her first of two Best Songs Oscar nominations, making her the first Black female to do so. Garrett was nominated for “Love You I Do, ” in 2006; and “Real in Rio” (from the animated film Rio).
**Bonus**
In 1961, Duke Ellington became the first black person to be nominated for Best Original Score. Over the last 50 years only two Black people have won the category– Prince and Herbie Hancock. The last Black person to receive a Best Original Score nod was Best Original Song nominee Jonas Gwanga, in 1987.
