Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood

by Jill Watts and Jill Watts

Book Overview

From an accomplished historian comes an uncompromising look at the pervasive racism in Hollywood, as seen through the life and times of actress Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel is best known for her performance as Mammy, the sassy foil to Scarlett O'Hara in the movie classic Gone with the Wind. Her powerful performance won her an Oscar(R) and bolstered the hopes of black Hollywood that the entertainment industry was finally ready to write...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060514914
• ISBN13: 9780060514914
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Amistad Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

I love Hattie

This has got to be one of the best books written about someone. The book is well written and an enjoyment to read. I hope all get a chance to read such a book. thank you.

A WONDERFUL READ

THIS IS NOT JUST A BIOGRAPHY OF A FASCINATING WOMAN, IT IS ALSO A FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF THE PREJUDICE MS MCDANIEL FACED WITHIN THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY, AND FROM THE NAACP. A FIRST CLASS ACCOUNT OF A WOMAN I FELT I KNEW PERSONALLY AFTER THE LAST PAGE, AND AN EQUALLY WONDERFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT PREJUDICE AND RACIAL PROBLEMS IN ALL ITS FORMS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT

Hattie McDaniel: A wonderful actress

Even though I enjoyed this book enormously, I felt that there was too much speculation and not enough concrete facts included in it. As an avid non-fiction reader, I believe that this is key in any good biography. I can appreciate the fact that because Miss. McDaniel was a black woman living in an era that was difficult for any woman, let alone a black woman. The author did let the reader know that there just wasn't alot of documentation on even acclaimed black people in that time in history. That is a shame. I loved Miss. McDaniel's retort to a black newspaper that critizied her for portraying mostly maids in film. She said that she "would rather portray a black maid in the movies and earn a good wage, than to actually work as a maid and earn a meager salary." You go Miss. McDaniel. Overall, a good read.

Sweeping Story of a Complex Lady

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.

Beautiful, intelligent book

The context of this book is sweeping -- slavery, the Civil War, American culture, the Hollywood system, the history of a family and the struggles of a gifted woman. The complexity and depth of this biography are compelling, as was Hattie McDaniel. A beautiful, intelligent book.