Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar in 1939 for her role in "Gone With the Wind," is the central figure in this historic tale.
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The whereabouts of McDaniel's iconic Oscar had been a mystery for years until the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences took action.
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The film academy, along with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, has meticulously recreated McDaniel's legendary Oscar, which is now destined for a new home.
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Howard University, where McDaniel had bequeathed her original Oscar, will be the proud recipient of the replacement award.
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The award will be permanently housed at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts within Howard University's campus.
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The momentous presentation ceremony, titled "Hattie's Come Home," is scheduled for October 1, set to take place at the university in Washington D.C.
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Jacqueline Stewart, President of the Academy Museum, and Bill Kramer, Chief Executive of the academy, jointly expressed their excitement about honoring Hattie McDaniel's legacy.
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McDaniel's original Oscar was a plaque, consistent with the awards given to all supporting acting winners from 1936 to 1942.
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During the 12th Academy Awards ceremony, McDaniel was seated at a segregated table, reflecting the racial divisions of the time.
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McDaniel's heartfelt acceptance speech, filled with humility and grace, remains a testament to her enduring impact on the entertainment industry, even as she passed away in 1952 due to breast cancer at the age of 59.
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