In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. A feat not repeated until 1963 by Sidney Poitier for Lilies of the Field. The joy and trepidation that McDaniel expresses during her long walk up to the stage sets the tone for the rest of The Queen of Sugar Hill. Author ReShonda Tate catalogs the ups and downs that follow McDaniel throughout the rest of her life in this powerful story about resilience and finding joy during times of sorrow.
Although McDaniel broke barriers and proved her acting acumen, her Oscar win did not catapult her into the Hollywood stratosphere like she hoped it would. The powerful Hollywood producer, David O. Selznick, did not want McDaniel to stray too far away from her role as Mammy since that character made him so much money. Journalists from both sides of the racial divide scolded McDaniel for playing roles that portrayed African American people as either too subservient or too sassy. In other words, Hattie McDaniel could not catch a break in her career.
Tate also chronicles the many loves of Hattie McDaniel's life. A love life that might be considered even more tumultuous than her movie career. Through it all McDaniel maintains a fierce independence and joy for life. She certainly experienced bouts of depression, but she always found her way out of it. Tate's novel is well-researched and thought-provoking. So put on a Billie Holiday record and dive into this achievement of historical fiction.
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