"I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry." -Hattie McDaniel Watch my Vintage Black Hollywood starlets playlist if you liked this video ru-vid.com/group/PLjQibLG11RaGyAVqW
So beautifully said. Hattie McDaniel speaking voice… was absolutely rich! Even while holding back the tears! May my Queen ancestor continue to rest peacefully!!! All Praises to Most High! 💫 Thank you very much for this clip!
And it’s not like if she refused the part the character would not be portrayed. Another black actress would have done it. Someone else would have gotten that money.
Amazing..all these years and what did Steve Harvey recently tell Monique..." The best thing you can do for poor people is don't be one" Hattie more guts than a lot of these current actors.. No power, don't speak up.. Blackballed if you do.
I don’t think it’s right to judge Hattie because we were born in a different time in history than she was. We can’t get into the same headspace as Hattie so we couldn’t ever understand her choices. And I’m thankful for not being able to relate! I’m thankful that my ancestors survived by the choices they made so I can’t relate! They made difficult choices so I wouldn’t have to, and I think it’s wrong to judge them when I’m at a place of more privilege than they could ever be.
Unfortunately at that time the only roles offered to black performers were stereotypical and low paying. But she kept her head held high and she deserved the Oscar she won.
Absolutely! I say this myself all of the time. I am so very grateful for those who came before me, even one generation before me. I hope I can somehow make things easier for younger generations.
What goes over a lot of ppl heads is she took her lemons and made bomb ass lemonade. She took a $7 job and flipped it into a $700 a week CHARACTER against all odds. She saw the much bigger picture. She ate the shame of fame so we can have roles like the Little Mermaid, Black Panther etc, so I will never do Ms. Hattie about a damn thang😂❤
I feel like we still have the power to do and make our own pathways instead of allowing this trend. Ppl will do and treat you however you allow them to
Seriously, we need to stop applying our contemporary mentaility upon eras of the past. Hattie received so much criticism from the NAACP at the height of her career for taking on demeaning roles. Even though the organization was well aware of the fact that she and many other Black entertainers were relegated to playing secondary roles due to the Jim Crow laws. Never the less, she offered one of the best responses ever to their unfair criticism; "Why should i complain? I'd probably be earning about $7.00 a week being an actual maid as oppose to playing one and earning $700.00 a week! She paved the way for so many future black actresses and was afforded the first Oscar as a black actor for her role as "Mammy" in GWTW. These Black actors of the past deserve our praise not our scorn beause they had to endure so much in order to star in classic films. Where roles for Black entertainers were so far and few between. Today, many Black entertainers possess the monetary wherewithal to create their own film and star in their own production. Sadly, many are willing to degrade themselves by starring in films that do not always reflect Black culture in a positive light!
I do honor her, but even people during her day did criticized her for taking those rolls. In retrospect it is all personal perspective whether it is our time or her time, and people did criticized her in the times she was living in.
@@justcallmebrian793 I’m sure it was BP (especially those Blue vein ones) criticizing her. Would they have helped her or given her a job that paid even half of what she made as an actress? Those same people would walk by her if they saw her begging on the street.
@@liviavallendenez I'm so glad that you can see that. Others today are so consumed with faulting the past and excoriating those whom like Ms McDaniel utilized her talents to entertain the world through the only vehicle at that time in which she could fuel her comedic acting.
"Why shouldn't I play a maid for $700 a week, when if I was a maid I'd be making $7 a week" 👏🏽 not everyone is a justice warrior, that could have ended badly. She settled for being able to feed herself and make her way doing what made her happy despite just trying to survive. It's still hard today, to look like Hattie and be successful. Hell, I'm a light skinned mixed race person and I'm barely surviving in 2023! Haters gonna hate, rest in peace legend.
Simple economics. Sad that today people (black n white) who have nothing won't take a job that pays $10 to start to come up. Hattie had to start somewhere and she did it with grace and dignity
Thank you. It’s like black celebrities even now we have to be some sort of activist or justice warrior for social and civil right issues. It’s draining. Not all black celebrities should be put in that position. The ones who do then that’s ok but it’s also ok if there are ones who don’t. I don’t blame Hattie McDaniels for what she did. She took an opportunity to be able to make living and make good money especially for that time period and was not about to let naysayers keep her from getting her bag I respect her.
Precisely so tired of this narrative that black people, specifically bw always gotta be social justice warriors, if it’s improving your quality of living then go and take it. No other group of people has to be subjected to the burden of looking out for everyone else…
@@chanela.7786 Perfectly said. Black people in the entertainment field shouldn’t feel like they are obligated to be involved in politics, and social movements when they aren’t in those fields. Their job is to entertain rather that be acting, music etc. they should be able to stay in their lane and leave that to people who are actually involved in those things.
Her Oscar acceptance speech was so beautiful. She worked so hard and did what she had to do to build her career and survive. The gardenias she wore were a perfect touch. Reminds me of Billie Holiday.
She had another thing against her: she was dark. None of the women, to my recollection, who chose dignity over a paycheck were her complexion, and it's not a coincidence
@@googleuser7454 fat shaming and looks?! Nothing has changed. Doesn’t matter the color. She was loved by many people in her day. Her cast members tried hard to stand up for her.
My great aunt was a housekeeper. I was born in the early 70s and when she came to visit and saw me writing and reading she said I could be a secretary which was a big deal for her. My parents yelled ...no she'll be a doctor. oddly enough I became a secretary to support my acting pursuit. it's all in when we were born. it's a thing.
Hattie was also dark skinned. The other women who refused to do maid roles were able to do that based on their skin tone. Hattie had to take what was available for her skin tone. She had to take pride in what she could get to give pride to the darker skinned people of that time.
Thank you! I feel people keep overlooking this factor and it is a pretty major one. Desirability politics play a role in this and Hattie was not only dark-skinned, but plus-sized, and frankly, all the actresses that could fight the good fight for better roles fit a mold that Hattie simply could not and would not. She chose the latter and self-preservation was her best bet and I don't blame her for that at all!
@@LoganCharlesII Yes she was. Compare her tone to Hattie. Plus they are actresses from two different times. McDaniel was born in the 1890's I believe. Kitt in the late 1920s.
And why do y’all always say this because someone is lightskin they are privileged we are all black I’m light so don’t use that as excuse Hattie could stood up and refused those roles just Dorothy dandridge ertha kitt and much other black woman of those times
I don’t like the title. She played her role to the fullest. My family is from Atlanta and no Gone With The Wind should not be altered, blocked, nor banned. IT HAPPENED! Never forget. She told them what to do in the film. ❤
Love Hattie McDaniels she may have played servitude roles but she also played roles that showcased her many talents. I read somewhere that she always arrived on movie sets dressed so very well that she received the nickname High Stepping Hattie. If it's hard for people to see, just imagine how hard someone with her talent was to endure it. When Monique received her academy award, I loved how she said that the spirit of Hattie McDaniels was standing there with her, she played those roles, so that today's BW no longer has to.
I heard Hattie McDaniel came back as Oprah to get her money and fame. Without Hattie McDaniel there wouldn't be leading black actresses today. Enjoying the content
Representation is complex but she really said: “Visibility at all costs.” Also, it was never her fault alone, it was the industry’s. They’ve failed so many people especially women of colour.
♥️ I’m forever inspired and excited by the unique/talented people/personalities that you focus on. Thank you Karine for your phenomenal/Insightful/encouraging platform. Take care x
I don't understand why the black community was mad at Hattie for playing a character that was a real life character for many people. She paved the way for other black actors to be onscreen. Thank you for this video +
Karine, you told Hattie MaDaniel's story very well! They can say all of the negative things about her but; she won an Oscar for acting as a role that Black people actually got paid $7.00 a week to do! She was making $700.00 a week! No other black people back then were making that! She was a trendsetter and I admired her so! She gave fabulous parties and the elite of Hollywood, was always there! Clark Gable and Jimmy Cagney, attended her Sunday dinners regularly! Her Mansion is still here in the West Adams area! Unless, you have walked in her shoes, a child of former slaves, you should never throw stones! Thank you Hattie McDaniel!!⭐️ 🎬⭐️🎬⭐️
Black people love other people's approval too much. They're still doing it now, wanting the industry to help them when they don't care. She won an Oscar and? They're mocking black people
I love her & we have to give her a lot of credit because for that era she certainly accomplished so much. Maybe she had to look out for herself. It's not easy to challenge Hollywood. We can even see that up until today.
These vids will never get boring I love that you talk about icons who Are not huge Megastars and introduce us to names and stories we haven't heard of💞
Huge Hattie McDaniels fan. Her interpretation of Mammy as a smart, shrewd woman who saw right through the hypocrisy of the landed gentry of the South was brilliant and Oscar worthy. I don’t know if this story is true but I hope it is: When Clark Gable learned that Ms. McDaniels could not attend the premiere of GWTW in Atlanta he threatened not to go. It was McDaniels who convinced him to go. She showed the ultimate in grace and class.
Mammy wasn't a stereotype it was a character/role many BW in that time period filled being a maid and/or nanny . These women earned a living for themselves and their families , now contrast that with the Step an Fetch it character, now that was offensive . In Thirties Hollywood with the Hayes Code was she gonna play Clark Gables Love Interest ? Comes On , let's celebrate our Legends . Thanks for remembering Hattie
Soror Hattie McDaniels did her best just like many black folks did during that era. She should be respected for her bravery during a time where WE as black people had little to no rights. Before Halle Berry received an award for her movie role "Monsters Ball" it was Soror McDaniels that opened the doors for every Black man and Black woman to get an Oscar or Academy Award, and that's rare. Awesome video 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💙💛💙💛💙💛🐩🐩🐩🐩😍😍😍😍 *Many times, it is our own people that will put their own down, but if she would have become homeless I doubt it, if anyone would have given her money. Not one!
it’s not a sign of intelligence to judge someone who lived decades ago and had few options available to her by the values of an incredibly privileged contemporary person who has many options open to them. As McDaniel herself once said: “I could be a maid for $7 a week, or i could play a maid for $700 a week.” Seems like a no-brainer to me. Great video. Very thoughtful.
How sad not to respect the bottom of the ladder. I love Hattie and watching her movies. Did you know they would not let her be Buried at the Hollywood Cemetery as she had wished? Respect the fountation!!!!!
You are right Karine. The mind is a powerful thing & the industry makes things harder. To make $700 instead of $7 a week to act as a maid... especially in that day in age. I can see why see put her pride aside in order to make a decent living & life out what she could.. To come from where she did & made it as far as she did... She put in the work so others can soar. If anyone's to blame is those executives writing the scripts & hiring the cast & wanting them to act out the movie in the manner they did... They were the forces behind the scenes making these films. If it wasn't her acting out in the films then it would've been someone else in her place. Either way she still deserves her flowers for the showing up & doing the work. 🙏💛💐
R.I.P Hattie McDaniel 🌹...It wasn't easy but you made a name for yourself, did what you needed to do to sustain yourself and you broke barriers with what little you had in the midst of your Era. Your accomplishments are important then and now. Respect to you and to those who came before you whom were not afforded the opportunities as you were.
Even if she played a maid her good looks, intelligence, vitality and personality shone through. There are different ways to play the maid role. Hattie added a lot to Gone with the Wind. Not everyone could do that. She wasn't just a maid in her part, she gave much more.
I absolutely love your channel. I was a film major in college so your channel reflects the break down of films and the characters who portray in these films but your ability to detail their life whether good or bad and their art is great journalism at its best!💙💯🥰
What we're not gonna do is disrespect the life and legacy of a legend like Hattie when most of us in this "community" today aren't doing HALF of what she did. Sis paved a way for us, and while we may not like the roles she had to play, she got us in the door. Put some respect on her pls and thank you.
I’ve seen in a previous video that alleged diahnn carol’s parents were poor and at one point they sent her away as a small child so they could make money to afford to take care of her and the abandonment issues this caused , because she didn’t understand why she was being sent away scarred her, her whole life…I am so thankful I live in these current times even though they are hectic. We need to praise our ancestors….They walked, so we could RUN! 🏃🏿♂️
I have to say, I love Hattie McDaniel she was a wonderful actress. When I was little we watched Gone with the Wind. My parents used this as a learning tool for us. This is how we do not treat people, there are no color barriers . We are all God's children. I saw as a child how wrong it was, my parents were schooling me early. They showed me how important every person of every color is important and one of God's children. I think it's very ironic that Ms. Hattie and Ms. Butterfly stole the darn movie, phenomenal actresses that did not get their due in life.
This is strange, the title says "sellout", (which is blasphemy) but the comment section shows support. Can't watch because of the title. Very off putting.
I think it was Hattie was getting a lot of criticism for always portraying a maid in the movie industry. However, in the golden years of Hollywood, which was in the 1920s to the 50s. I think it was who said, "it's better to play a maid rather than being a maid."
"I'd rather play a maid in a movie, than be one in real life." 🤷 She gets nothing but respect to me. In my opinion she should be a well-respected figure in black history.
She played her role in life and on stage. Half these rappers are new age Hatties and we still bumping the trash so I don’t understand the selective outrage. She didn’t know any better and she still did what she loved. Gone with the wind will be forever my favorite movie. It’s historical and the story line for that time period was excellent. It was what it was. Still a cinematic masterpiece.
It sure is easy to offend the truth in order to make a point. HM was a legend in her own time. At least she isn't remembered for talking disrespectfully about people who struggled like she did. She had class, talent, and went through things that I wouldn't dare face myself. The struggle is real. So are put downs. RIP.
This was a wonderful take. “If you were within those conditions during this time period, you don’t know how you would react… the mind is a powerful thing… it’s difficult to get out of a mindset once people hijack your mind and make you believe a certain way!” - I’m paraphrasing a bit but you hit the nail on the head with this one. People today are so out of touch and very ‘privileged’ for lack of better term, in how they go about and react to life when there was a time that the very idea of their frustrations was seen as meaningless. Folk today have no clue how much blood, sweat and tears had to be put into their work and how many sacrifices had to made in order to open the doors for our people today. The many spaces Black and Latino entertainers created for expression that’s formed the foundation of the very platforms they use to complain about these legendary pioneers!
I can understand black people's anger with her portrayals as the mammy trope back in those days. It's hard to fight against a stereotype when there are those that use it to benefit or have a mentality of cognitive dissonance about it all. The same can be said for all of the black men in porn who play the thug tropes and perform to please white and non black audiences in mainstream porn. Those tropes don't benefit black men but confirm the stereotypes they've always had about black men. Those performers benefit by receiving a check. Not to go off topic too much. Hattie McDaniel knew that she was being used as a puppet but I'd hope that her reason for playing the part was that if not her then another black woman would have and it was only for the money.
You are a forward thinker. The rest of these people who are going along with this would have been a big of a sell-out if she was. Thank God they were people in the community fighting for the whole and not just themselves or we would not be free today.
Because of her complexion and size, ppl couldn't see or appreciate how beautiful she was and continues to be. Fly high Ms. McDaniels. You earned ur crown 👑✨💞
I’d say almost all of us (Black people) have done something that would be considered selling out. We are all just trying to find our way. There are so many things I’d no longer do or say that I’ve done. People just didn’t see me do it and that’s hard to navigate.
Please do a breakdown of Ethel Waters and James Edwards when you have the time. So glad you give Hattie McDaniel some grace. She was just one person in that system. Totally agree.
This Legend did nothing wrong by doing her job , when that's all she could do to feed herself and her family. She Won an Oscar and made $700 a week and bought a house in a good neighborhood. REST IN BLESSED PEACE MA'AM.
Karine, we are so proud of you for this EXCELLENT examination of the life of Hattie McDonald. She was indeed a trailblazer! And her memorable remark comparing the salary of an actress playing a maid with the slave wages of a member of the oppressed class actually being a maid is harsh truth. I knew an old black farmer who has since passed away. His family was raised in the rural South at a time when lynchings were as common as a cup of coffee. He told me the true story of his friend who owned a neighboring farm. His friend married a beautiful mulatto woman who attracted the attention of white men. She did not flaunt herself. She simply went into town to buy cloth for sewing. The men saw her, made inquiries, discovered the location of the farm. They went to the farm, raped the woman, and killed her husband. This incident happened about 15 years before the murder of Emmett Till. When he talked about it, 50 years later, I could still see the fear in his eyes and hear the tremor in his voice. You are absolutely right that such PTSD never goes away. Politically correct johnny-come-latelies have the luxury of condemning Hattie McDaniel because she paved the way for them to do so. Thank you again, Karine.
Another great actress, Louise Beavers, said she was a "proud mammy!" She said "I am only playing the parts. I don't live them." She used what was offered to have a successful Hollywood career as a black actress! People shouldn't judge! It was a very different time!
Hattie McDaniel once stated that she instead played a maid on the screen than be one for the pennies that society was paying to be one for real. It is incredibly disingenuous to judge our elders for the choices that society forced them to make to survive. It is easy in 2023 to talk about what our loved ones had to do in the 1900s. None of us could survive those conditions. In fact, they are the very reason WHY we have the lives that we live. A little empathy would be excellent for what they endured because slander is not endearing. :(
A strong woman who made the best of her times. "I'd rather play a maid than be a maid. I can be a maid for $7 a week or I can play a maid for $700 a week." I can look at many "stars" today, comedians and "singers," and say that they are exploiting the tropes of black people that are acceptable now; are they too "sellouts?"
I really appreciate you for bringing up such an understanding and grass touching point of view, pointing out how these people are a product of their time and just human beings being flawed just like any of us.
