opens theoors of room, and enableceus tembrace the whole ofmeri. >> reporter: yearsefore jackie robinson, decades s re martin ther king jr., hattie mcdaniel became the first african-ameran to win an osr. >> m mheararis too full. to tll youust how i feel. may i sasathank u, and god bless you. reporter: the oscararseemed to be on the cutting edge ofofof ci eality. but over t t nexe8e8 years, only three more actors s color wononon oscars until pioldbwin for "g"g." hrd peoeoe lk abouthow lo it habeenwe haie mcdaniel l another ack woman. was kind of ocked by thaha thananyou soh. but the differ between my wid anr woma ter . hae y. >^epepter: halle berry w w thehe fit africaamerican to win best leadingctress. >> this momes for r ery namele, fafaless woman of color that now has a chance beusususis dr tonight has been opened. >> reporter: aft that moment, esescially with h denz washington winning g st actot#that same ninit, many people belved thateal racialequality had finally arrived at ththoscars. between at momenehananthis one, sth actctctof color oscarsrs but w,ororecd yen a wo na sile nomine