Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood (Paperback)

~ (Author) "IN EARLY SPRING 1915, the McDaniel family of Denver, Colorado, received a questionnaire from the United States Department of Interior..." (more)
Key Phrases: censor files, white show business, black film stars, African Americans, Los Angeles, Gone With the Wind (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her imperfect yet fascinating biography, Watts (Mae West) unveils the largely tragic tale of Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Academy Award. Born in 1893, the youngest daughter of freed slaves, McDaniel sang and danced to help provide for her poverty-stricken family. Her early career as a comedian and singer garnered raves. She landed in Hollywood, appearing as an extra in scores of early 1930s films. Soon speaking roles in films like Stella Dallas led to her Oscar-winning performance as Mammy in the 1939 epic Gone with the Wind. This achievement marked the pinnacle of McDaniel's career—and heralded its collapse. Despite the complexity of her portrayal, McDaniel became typecast as the affable, disgruntled or tippling domestic. Although she'd educated herself , dressed elegantly and became involved in a range of political and social issues, McDaniel was hampered by studios that presented her as an eye-rolling, dialect-speaking Jemima. Watts's strength lies in her explication of the political and social conflicts in which McDaniel was embroiled. Yet her illumination of the complex actress herself is weak; she only comes alive in the book's final chapters. Nevertheless, Watts has crafted a compelling, disturbing history of blacks in early Hollywood. Photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School Through research and interviews with friends of McDaniel, Watts explores the actress's life and career. Though she worked in a variety of venues, including television and radio, she was arguably best known for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. When McDaniel signed the contract, in 1939, to play the part, she said, This is a chance to glorify Negro womanhood…. The first black actress to win an Academy Award, she said in her acceptance speech, I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race and the motion picture industry. For a time, she hoped that the award would mean more opportunities for her and a wider range of roles for black performers in general. That did not happen. Forced into continuing to play the role of the faithful servant, she was criticized by many members of the black community, including the press, for perpetuating negative stereotypes. The choice, as she saw it, often came down to accepting the parts she was offered and trying to give them worth or leaving the entertainment industry. Watts presents a fascinating and well-written study of a complex woman who strived for recognition as an actress and yet too many times was denied the opportunity to use her talents. Peggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060514914
• ISBN-13: 978-0060514914
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #262,998 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping Story of a Complex Lady, February 20, 2006

By	Graceann Macleod "Books Fuel My Life" (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood (Hardcover)

This well-written, even-handed biography not only tells you about Miss McDaniel, but also about where she came from and how she came to be the woman she was. The youngest daughter of a former slave and Union Army veteran, a woman of deep faith and love of family, and one of the hardest working people I've ever read about. A lot of time is spent in discussion of Miss McDaniel's father's fight for his rightful pension after the Civil War, and it gives one a great deal of insight into the family's tenacity. This knowledge informs as to why McDaniel's fight with Walter White was so bitter and long-lasting.

The lady fought for and earned her place in Cinema History, and Jill Watts documents her journey in an informative and interesting way.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save Your Money, March 18, 2006

By	Diane Miller (Montrose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood (Hardcover)

I was looking forward to reading an in-depth biography of Miss McDaniel - this wasn't it. Very dry reading, and for some reason the author felt the need to use the subject's full name in every sentence. If you didn't know who you were reading about just by the title of the book, you would certainly be sure of it by the end of the first chapter. By the end of the book, you were sick to death of the name Hattie McDaniel. Definitely written by a teacher, not an author who had any interest at all in her subject. A truly boring book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Elusive Miss McDaniel's Life, May 19, 2006

By	History Reader (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood (Hardcover)

This book on one of the most memorable Black performers from the studio period catches some of her vivacity--her mother is said to have given her youngest child a nickel on occasion to just stop singing, dancing and carrying on. The reader can't be sure that Mrs. McDaniel wasn't just trying to find a moment's peace or if she was attempting to dissuade her daughter from setting off on what she regarded as the primrose path. This bio does a good job of detailing her family's path from slavery to her role as one of the most visible representatives of her people to the average American in the '30s and '40s.

Hattie McDaniel's ability to endure as well as her gift for imbuing her often subservient characters with much more edge than audiences were aware of at the time are delineated nicely in this biography. The author is remarkably thorough, mentioning Miss McDaniel's lifelong generosity to others, constant work to educate and make her industry more equitable, and even her participation in midget car races(Oh, where is the film of this?!)as well as her pioneering efforts to represent women, as well as Black Americans, as human beings. There is also some suggestion that Hattie McDaniel may have had to maneuver behind the scenes to maintain her preeminent position, though this is presented as indicative of the actress' savvy understanding of the inner workings of the Hollywood publicity machine.

It's a little dry in parts, since the author, a professor of history, ascribes some conscious social and political motivations to this artist's early work that may be a bit hard to believe. Hattie McDaniel deserves to be recognized for her contributions, but sometimes, I suspect that like most of us, she did what she did in order to keep the wolf from the door. A worthwhile read.