# List of black Academy Award winners and nominees

This list of Black Academy Award winners and nominees is fully current as of the 97th Academy Awards, which was held on March 2, 2025.

## Best Actor in a Leading Role

Best Actor in a Leading Role :
| Year | Name | Film | Role | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1958 | Sidney Poitier | The Defiant Ones | Noah Cullen | Nominated | First Black actor to be nominated for Best Actor. |
| 1963 | Sidney Poitier | Lilies of the Field | Homer Smith | Won | First Black man to win a competitive Oscar. First Bahamian to win Best Actor. First Black actor to receive two acting nominations (Best Actor). Youngest Black actor to win Best Actor (age 37). |
| 1970 | James Earl Jones | The Great White Hope | Jack Jefferson | Nominated | |
| 1972 | Paul Winfield | Sounder | Nathan Lee Morgan | Nominated | First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. |
| 1986 | Dexter Gordon | Round Midnight | Dale Turner | Nominated | First jazz musician to be nominated for Best Actor. |
| 1989 | Morgan Freeman | Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn | Nominated | |
| 1992 | Denzel Washington | Malcolm X | Malcolm X | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Laurence Fishburne | What's Love Got to Do with It | Ike Turner | Nominated | Second film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. |
| 1994 | Morgan Freeman | The Shawshank Redemption | Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Denzel Washington | The Hurricane | Rubin Carter | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Denzel Washington | Training Day | Alonzo Harris | Won | Second African-American actor to receive the award for Best Actor. First time two African-American performers won Oscars in the same year (Halle Berry, Monster's Ball). First African-American actor to win multiple competitive Academy Awards. First and only African-American actor to win Academy Awards in both acting categories (lead and supporting). |
| 2001 | Will Smith | Ali | Muhammad Ali | Nominated | First time multiple African-American actors nominated for Best Actor in the same year. |
| 2004 | Jamie Foxx | Ray | Ray Charles | Won | First African-American to receive two acting nominations in the same year. |
| 2004 | Don Cheadle | Hotel Rwanda | Paul Rusesabagina | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Terrence Howard | Hustle & Flow | DJay | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Forest Whitaker | The Last King of Scotland | Idi Amin | Won | |
| 2006 | Will Smith | The Pursuit of Happyness | Chris Gardner | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Morgan Freeman | Invictus | Nelson Mandela | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Denzel Washington | Flight | William "Whip" Whitaker | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Chiwetel Ejiofor | 12 Years a Slave | Solomon Northup | Nominated | First Black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor. |
| 2016 | Denzel Washington | Fences | Troy Maxson | Nominated | First Black actor to direct himself to an Oscar nomination (for acting only). First Black actor to be nominated for both acting and producing (Best Picture) in the same year. |
| 2017 | Denzel Washington | Roman J. Israel, Esq. | Roman J. Israel | Nominated | First Black actor to be nominated two years in a row (nominated the same years as first Black actress). |
| 2017 | Daniel Kaluuya | Get Out | Chris Washington | Nominated | Second Black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor. |
| 2020 | Chadwick Boseman | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Levee Green | Nominated | First African-American actor to receive a posthumous nomination. Third film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. |
| 2021 | Will Smith | King Richard | Richard Williams | Won | Second Black actor, and ninth overall, to be nominated for both acting and producing (Best Picture) in the same year. |
| 2021 | Denzel Washington | The Tragedy of Macbeth | Lord Macbeth | Nominated | Denzel Washington has the most nominations for an African-American actor: Best Actor (7 nominations) and Best Supporting Actor (2 nominations). First African-American actor to receive a nomination for their performance in a Shakespeare adaptation. |
| 2023 | Jeffrey Wright | American Fiction | Thelonious "Monk" Ellison | Nominated | First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. |
| 2023 | Colman Domingo | Rustin | Bayard Rustin | Nominated | First gay Black and Afro-Latino actor to be nominated for Best Actor. |
| 2024 | Colman Domingo | Sing Sing | John "Divine G" Whitfield | Nominated | Second African-American actor to be nominated two years in a row. |

## Best Actress in a Leading Role

Best Actress in a Leading Role :
| Year | Name | Film | Role | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1954 | Dorothy Dandridge | Carmen Jones | Carmen Jones | Nominated | First African-American actress to be nominated for Best Actress. |
| 1972 | Diana Ross | Lady Sings the Blues | Billie Holiday | Nominated | First African-American actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance. First time multiple African-American actresses received Best Actress nominations. |
| 1972 | Cicely Tyson | Sounder | Rebecca Morgan | Nominated | First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. First time multiple African-American actresses received Best Actress nominations. |
| 1974 | Diahann Carroll | Claudine | Claudine | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Whoopi Goldberg | The Color Purple | Celie Johnson | Nominated | Debut film performance. First time multiple African-American actresses received nominations for the same film for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 1993 | Angela Bassett | What's Love Got to Do with It | Tina Turner | Nominated | Second film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. |
| 2001 | Halle Berry | Monster's Ball | Leticia Musgrove | Won | First African-American actress to win Best Actress. First person of color to win Best Actress. First time two African-American performers won Oscars in the same year (Denzel Washington, Training Day). |
| 2009 | Gabourey Sidibe | Precious | Claireece "Precious" Jones | Nominated | Debut film performance. Second film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 2011 | Viola Davis | The Help | Aibileen Clark | Nominated | Second African-American actress to receive acting nominations in the lead and supporting categories after Whoopi Goldberg. Third film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Supporting Actress categories. |
| 2012 | Quvenzhané Wallis | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Hushpuppy | Nominated | Debut film performance. At age 9, youngest ever Best Actress nominee. First person born in the 21st century to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2016 | Ruth Negga | Loving | Mildred Loving | Nominated | First Black Irish actress to be nominated. First Black African (Ethiopia) actress to be nominated for Lead Actress. |
| 2019 | Cynthia Erivo | Harriet | Harriet Tubman | Nominated | First Black British actress to be nominated. Second Black woman to receive multiple Oscar nominations in the same year. Third person nominated for an acting award and a music award (Best Original Song) in the same year. First Nigerian to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2020 | Viola Davis | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Ma Rainey | Nominated | Most nominated African-American actress, with four nominations. First Black actress to receive two nominations for Best Actress. Third film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Actress. Second time multiple African-American actresses received Best Actress nominations. |
| 2020 | Andra Day | The United States vs. Billie Holiday | Billie Holiday | Nominated | Second time multiple African-American actresses received Best Actress nominations. First time that an African-American role has been nominated for a second performer playing it in a different film. |
| 2024 | Cynthia Erivo | Wicked | Elphaba Thropp | Nominated | First Black British actress to receive two nominations for Best Actress, and the second Black actress to receive two nominations for Best Actress. |

## Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actor in a Supporting Role :
| Year | Name | Film | Role | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1969 | Rupert Crosse | The Reivers | Ned | Nominated | First African-American actor to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. |
| 1981 | Howard Rollins | Ragtime | Coalhouse Walker Jr. | Nominated | Debut film performance. |
| 1982 | Louis Gossett Jr. | An Officer and a Gentleman | Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley | Won | First African-American actor to win Best Supporting Actor. |
| 1984 | Adolph Caesar | A Soldier's Story | Sgt. Waters | Nominated | |
| 1987 | Morgan Freeman | Street Smart | Fast Black | Nominated | First time multiple African-American actors received Best Supporting Actor nominations. |
| 1987 | Denzel Washington | Cry Freedom | Steve Biko | Nominated | First time multiple African-American actors received Best Supporting Actor nominations. |
| 1989 | Denzel Washington | Glory | Pvt. Trip | Won | First African-American actor to receive two Best Supporting Actor nominations. |
| 1992 | Jaye Davidson | The Crying Game | Dil | Nominated | Debut film performance. Youngest Black actor to receive an Academy Award nomination (age 24) First Black British actor to receive an Academy Award nomination. First out Black actor to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 1994 | Samuel L. Jackson | Pulp Fiction | Jules Winnfield | Nominated | |
| 1996 | Cuba Gooding Jr. | Jerry Maguire | Rod Tidwell | Won | Youngest African-American male actor to win an Academy Award (age 29). |
| 1999 | Michael Clarke Duncan | The Green Mile | John Coffey | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Djimon Hounsou | In America | Mateo | Nominated | First Black actor born in Africa (specifically in Benin) to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2004 | Morgan Freeman | Million Dollar Baby | Eddie 'Scrap-Iron' Dupris | Won | Oldest African-American actor to win an Academy Award (age 67). |
| 2004 | Jamie Foxx | Collateral | Max | Nominated | First African-American to receive two acting nominations in the same year. |
| 2006 | Djimon Hounsou | Blood Diamond | Solomon Vandy | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Eddie Murphy | Dreamgirls | James 'Thunder' Early | Nominated | First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 2013 | Barkhad Abdi | Captain Phillips | Abduwali Muse | Nominated | Debut film performance. Second Black actor born in Africa (specifically in Somalia) to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2016 | Mahershala Ali | Moonlight | Juan | Won | Second film to feature Black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. First Muslim actor to win an Oscar. First time two African-American performers won in supporting role Oscars in the same year (Viola Davis, Fences). |
| 2018 | Mahershala Ali | Green Book | Don Shirley | Won | Second time two African-American performers won supporting role Oscars in the same year (Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk). First African-American actor to win two Oscars in the same category. Second African-American actor to win multiple competitive Academy Awards. |
| 2020 | Daniel Kaluuya | Judas and the Black Messiah | Fred Hampton | Won | First Black British actor to win an acting Oscar. First Black British actor to receive multiple Academy Award nominations. First film to have multiple black actors nominated in the same category for the same film. |
| 2020 | Lakeith Stanfield | Judas and the Black Messiah | William O'Neal | Nominated | First film to have multiple black actors nominated in the same category for the same film. |
| 2020 | Leslie Odom Jr. | One Night in Miami... | Sam Cooke | Nominated | First man to receive Academy Award nominations in the same year for acting and songwriting. Fourth person overall, third Black person, and first Black man nominated for an Academy Award for acting and songwriting in the same year. |
| 2022 | Brian Tyree Henry | Causeway | James Aucoin | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Sterling K. Brown | American Fiction | Clifford "Cliff" Ellison | Nominated | First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. |

## Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Actress in a Supporting Role :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Role | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1940 | Hattie McDaniel | | Gone with the Wind | Mammy | Won | First African-American to win and be nominated for an Academy Award. |
| 1949 | Ethel Waters | | Pinky | Mrs. Dicey Johnson (Pinky's Granny) | Nominated | Second African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award. |
| 1959 | Juanita Moore | | Imitation of Life | Annie Johnson | Nominated | |
| 1967 | Beah Richards | | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Mrs. Prentice | Nominated | |
| 1983 | Alfre Woodard | | Cross Creek | Geechee | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Margaret Avery | | The Color Purple | Shug Avery | Nominated | First time multiple African-American actresses from the same film are nominated in the same category. First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Winfrey's debut film performance. |
| 1985 | Oprah Winfrey | | The Color Purple | Sofia | Nominated | First time multiple African-American actresses from the same film are nominated in the same category. First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Winfrey's debut film performance. |
| 1990 | Whoopi Goldberg | | Ghost | Oda Mae Brown | Won | First African-American actress to receive two acting nominations. First African-American actress to receive acting nominations in the lead and supporting categories. Second African-American actress to win Best Supporting Actress. |
| 1996 | Marianne Jean-Baptiste | | Secrets & Lies | Hortense Cumberbatch | Nominated | First Black British actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2002 | Queen Latifah | | Chicago | Matron Mama Morton | Nominated | First female hip hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award. |
| 2004 | Sophie Okonedo | | Hotel Rwanda | Tatiana Rusesabagina | Nominated | Second Black British actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2006 | Jennifer Hudson | | Dreamgirls | Effie White | Won | Debut film performance. Youngest African-American to win an Academy Award (age 25) First film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 2007 | Ruby Dee | American Gangster | Mama Lucas | Nominated | At age 83, oldest African-American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award. |
| 2008 | Viola Davis | Doubt | Mrs. Miller | Nominated | First time two films have Black performers nominated for Supporting Actress in the same year. |
| 2008 | Taraji P. Henson | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Queenie | Nominated | First time two films have Black performers nominated for Supporting Actress in the same year. | |
| 2009 | Mo'Nique | Precious | Mary Lee Johnston | Won | Second film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 2011 | Octavia Spencer | The Help | Minny Jackson | Won | Third film to feature African-American nominees for both Best Actress and Supporting Actress. |
| 2013 | Lupita Nyong'o | | 12 Years a Slave | Patsey | Won | Debut film performance. First Black African (Kenyan) actress to be nominated. First Black African to win in any category. First Black Mexican to be nominated and win in any category. First Afro-Latina actress to be nominated and win an Academy Award. |
| 2016 | Viola Davis | | Fences | Rose Maxson | Won | First time two African-American performers won in supporting role Oscars in the same year (Mahershala Ali, Moonlight). First time three films have Black performers nominated for Supporting Actress in the same year. |
| 2016 | Naomie Harris | | Moonlight | Paula | Nominated | Third Black British actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. Second film to feature Black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. |
| 2016 | Octavia Spencer | | Hidden Figures | Dorothy Vaughan | Nominated | Third Black actress following Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis to earn multiple Oscar nominations. First Black actress to be nominated after previously winning. |
| 2017 | Octavia Spencer | | The Shape of Water | Zelda Fuller | Nominated | First Black actress to be nominated two years in a row (nominated the same years as first Black actor). |
| 2017 | Mary J. Blige | | Mudbound | Florence Jackson | Nominated | First Black woman to receive multiple Oscar nominations in the same year. First person nominated for an acting award and a music award (Best Original Song) in the same year. |
| 2018 | Regina King | | If Beale Street Could Talk | Sharon Rivers | Won | Second time two African-American performers won supporting Oscars in the same year (Mahershala Ali, Green Book). |
| 2021 | Ariana DeBose | | West Side Story | Anita | Won | First Black, African-American, Afro-Latina queer actress to be nominated and win in any acting category. |
| 2021 | Aunjanue Ellis | | King Richard | Oracene "Brandy" Price | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Angela Bassett | | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Queen Ramonda | Nominated | First actor nominated for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. First actress nominated for a comic book film. Third African-American actress to receive acting nominations in the lead and supporting categories after Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis. Fourth Black actress to be nominated twice. |
| 2023 | Da'Vine Joy Randolph | | The Holdovers | Mary Lamb | Won | |
| 2023 | Danielle Brooks | | The Color Purple | Sofia | Nominated | Second time that an African-American role has been nominated for a second performer playing it in a different film - first time for a fictional role, first time for a supporting role. |
| 2024 | Zoe Saldaña | | Emilia Pérez | Rita Mora Castro | Won | First Black actor and Afro-Latina nominated for a film primarily not in English. |

## Best Animated Feature

Academy Award for Best Animated Feature :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 2018 | Peter Ramsey | | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Won | Shared with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Bob Persichetti & Rodney Rothman First African American to be nominated for and to win for Animated Feature. |
| 2023 | Kemp Powers | | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Nominated | Shared with Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal. |

## Best Cinematography

Academy Award for Best Cinematography :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1998 | Remi Adefarasin | | Elizabeth | Nominated | First Black person to be nominated for Best Cinematography. |
| 2016 | Bradford Young | | Arrival | Nominated | First African American to be nominated in the category. |

## Best Costume Design

Academy Award for Best Costume Design :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1992 | Ruth E. Carter | Malcolm X | Nominated | First African American to be nominated for Best Costume Design. |
| 1997 | Ruth E. Carter | Amistad | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Sharen Davis | Ray | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Sharen Davis | Dreamgirls | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Ruth E. Carter | Black Panther | Won | First African American to win for Best Costume Design. |
| 2021 | Paul Tazewell | West Side Story | Nominated | First African American male costume designer to be nominated for Best Costume Design. |
| 2022 | Ruth E. Carter | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Won | First African American woman to win any two competitive Academy Awards. |
| 2024 | Paul Tazewell | Wicked | Won | First African American male costume designer to win for Best Costume Design. |

## Best Director

Academy Award for Best Director :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1991 | John Singleton | Boyz n the Hood | Nominated | First African-American to be nominated for Best Director. Youngest person ever nominated in this category (age 24). First Black director nominated for their debut feature film. |
| 2009 | Lee Daniels | Precious | Nominated | First nominated African-American director to direct a Best Picture-nominated film. |
| 2013 | Steve McQueen | 12 Years a Slave | Nominated | First Black director whose film won an Oscar for Best Picture. First Black British person to be nominated for Best Director. |
| 2016 | Barry Jenkins | Moonlight | Nominated | Second Black director to direct a Best Picture-winning film. First African-American director to direct a Best Picture-winning film. |
| 2017 | Jordan Peele | Get Out | Nominated | First African-American nominated for both Best Director and Best Picture for their debut film. |
| 2018 | Spike Lee | BlacKkKlansman | Nominated | |

## Best Documentary Feature

Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1987 | Callie Crossley (director/producer) | Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years/Bridge to Freedom 1965 | Nominated | First African American to be nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Shared with James A. DeVinney. |
| 1990 | Yvonne Smith (producer) | Adam Clayton Powell | Nominated | Shared with Richard Kilberg. |
| 1993 | William Miles (director/producer) | Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II | Nominated | |
| 1997 | Spike Lee (director/producer) Samuel D. Pollard (producer) | 4 Little Girls | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Karolyn Ali (producer) | Tupac: Resurrection | Nominated | |
| 2012 | T. J. Martin (director) | Undefeated | Won | First African American to win in this category. |
| 2016 | Ava DuVernay (director/producer) | 13th | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Roger Ross Williams (director/producer) | Life, Animated | Nominated | Shared with Julie Goldman. |
| 2016 | Raoul Peck (director/producer) Hébert Peck (producer) | I Am Not Your Negro | Nominated | First Haitians to be nominated in this category. |
| 2016 | Ezra Edelman (director/producer) | O.J.: Made in America | Won | |
| 2017 | Yance Ford (director/producer) | Strong Island | Nominated | First openly transgender man to be nominated for any Academy Award. First openly transgender director to be nominated for any Academy Award. Shared with Joslyn Barnes. |
| 2018 | RaMell Ross (director/producer) | Hale County This Morning, This Evening | Nominated | Shared with Joslyn Barnes and Su Kim. |
| 2020 | Garrett Bradley (director/producer) Lauren Domino (producer) | Time | Nominated | Shared with Kellen Quinn. |
| 2021 | Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (director) | Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) | Won | Shared with Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein. |
| 2021 | Stanley Nelson (director/producer) Traci A. Curry (director/producer) | Attica | Nominated |
| 2023 | Moses Bwayo (director) | Bobi Wine: The People's President | Nominated | Shared with Christopher Sharp and John Battsek |

## Best Documentary Short Subject

Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 2000 | Leelai Demoz | On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom | Nominated | Shared with Eric Simonson. First African American to be nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject. |
| 2009 | Roger Ross Williams | Music by Prudence | Won | Shared with Elinor Burkett. First African American to win Best Documentary Short Subject. |
| 2020 | Kris Bowers | A Concerto Is a Conversation | Nominated | Shared with Ben Proudfoot. |
| 2020 | Sophia Nahli Allison Janice Duncan | A Love Song for Latasha | Nominated | First African American women to be nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject. |
| 2023 | Kris Bowers | The Last Repair Shop | Won | First African American person to be nominated twice for Best Documentary Short Subject. Shared with Ben Proudfoot. |
| 2023 | Christine Turner | The Barber of Little Rock | Nominated | Shared with John Hoffman. |

## Best Film Editing

Academy Award for Best Film Editing :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1969 | Hugh A. Robertson | | Midnight Cowboy | Nominated | First African American to be nominated for Best Editing. |
| 2016 | Joi McMillon | | Moonlight | Nominated | First African American woman to be nominated for Best Editing. Shared with Nat Sanders. |

## Best International Feature Film

In the International Feature Film category (formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film), although the Oscar is presented to and accepted by the film's director, the submitting country is officially credited as the nominee, not the director. The following is a list of films directed by Black people which have been nominated for Best International Feature Film.
Academy Award for Best International Feature Film :
| Year | Director | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1995 | Rachid Bouchareb | Algeria | Dust of Life | Nominated | First Black director whose film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. |
| 2006 | Rachid Bouchareb | Algeria | Days of Glory | Nominated | First African director to have multiple films nominated for Best Foreign Language film. |
| 2010 | Rachid Bouchareb | Algeria | Outside the Law | Nominated | First African director whose films have received three nominations for Best Foreign Language Film. |
| 2013 | Abderrahmane Sissako | Mauritania | Timbuktu | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Ladj Ly | France | Les Miserables | Nominated | First non-African film directed by a Black director to be nominated in this category. |

## Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 2020 | Mia Neal Jamika Wilson | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Won | First African Americans to be nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Shared with Sergio López-Rivera. |
| 2021 | Carla Farmer Stacey Morris | Coming 2 America | Nominated | Shared with Mike Marino. |
| 2022 | Camille Friend | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Nominated | Shared with Joel Harlow. |

## Best Music, Original Score

Academy Award for Best Original Score :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1961 | Duke Ellington | Paris Blues | Nominated | First African American to be nominated for Best Original Score. Nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. |
| 1964 | Calvin Jackson | The Unsinkable Molly Brown | Nominated | Shared with Robert Armbruster, Leo Arnaud, Jack Elliott, Jack Hayes & Leo Shuken. |
| 1967 | Quincy Jones | In Cold Blood | Nominated | |
| 1972 | Isaac Hayes | Shaft | Nominated | Nominated for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score. |
| 1972 | Gil Askey | Lady Sings the Blues | Nominated | First African American to be nominated in the Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation (which is different from Best Original Score category). |
| 1978 | Quincy Jones | The Wiz | Nominated | First African American to be nominated in the Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score (which is different from Best Original Score category). |
| 1984 | Prince | Purple Rain | Won | First African American winner of Best Original Song Score (which is different from Best Original Score category); this category was retired afterwards. |
| 1985 | Quincy Jones Andrae Crouch Caiphus Semenya | The Color Purple | Nominated | Shared nomination with 9 other composers. Semenya became the first Black South African to be nominated for an Academy Award. |
| 1986 | Herbie Hancock | Round Midnight | Won | First African-American winner of Best Original Score. |
| 1987 | Jonas Gwangwa | Cry Freedom | Nominated | Shared with George Fenton. |
| 2018 | Terence Blanchard | BlacKkKlansman | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Terence Blanchard | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated | First African American to receive multiple solo nominations for Best Original Score. First time multiple African Americans received a nomination for Best Original Score in the same year. |
| 2020 | Jon Batiste | Soul | Won | First time multiple African Americans received a nomination for Best Original Score in the same year. Shared with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. |
| 2024 | Kris Bowers | The Wild Robot | Nominated | |

## Best Music, Original Song

Academy Award for Best Original Song :
| Year | Name | Film | Song | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1967 | Quincy Jones Bob Russell | Banning | "The Eyes of Love" | Nominated | First African Americans to be nominated for Best Original Song. |
| 1968 | Quincy Jones Bob Russell | For Love of Ivy | "For Love of Ivy" | Nominated | First African Americans to be nominated twice for Best Original Song. |
| 1972 | Isaac Hayes | Shaft | "Theme from Shaft" | Won | First African-American winner for Best Original Song. First African-American to win a non-acting award. |
| 1981 | Lionel Richie | Endless Love | "Endless Love" | Nominated | |
| 1983 | Irene Cara | Flashdance | "Flashdance... What a Feeling" | Won | First African-American woman to win a non-acting Academy Award. Shared with Keith Forsey & Giorgio Moroder. |
| 1984 | Stevie Wonder | The Woman in Red | "I Just Called to Say I Love You" | Won | |
| 1984 | Ray Parker Jr. | Ghostbusters | "Ghostbusters" | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Lionel Richie | White Nights | "Say You, Say Me" | Won | |
| 1985 | Quincy Jones Lionel Richie | The Color Purple | "Miss Celie's Blues" | Nominated | Shared nomination with Rod Temperton Richie is the first (and to date, only) Black person to receive multiple Best Original Song nominations in the same year. |
| 1987 | Jonas Gwangwa | Cry Freedom | "Cry Freedom" | Nominated | First Black South African to be nominated in this category. Shared with George Fenton. |
| 1988 | Lamont Dozier | Buster | "Two Hearts" | Nominated | Shared with Phil Collins. |
| 1993 | Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis | Poetic Justice | "Again" | Nominated | |
| 1993 | James Ingram | Beethoven's 2nd | "The Day I Fall In Love" | Nominated | Shared with Cliff Magness and Carole Bayer Sager. |
| 1994 | James Ingram | Junior | "Look What Love Has Done" | Nominated | Shared with James Newton Howard, Carole Bayer Sager, and Patty Smyth. |
| 2005 | Frayser Boy Juicy J DJ Paul | Hustle & Flow | "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" | Won | First African-American rappers to win an Academy Award. |
| 2006 | Siedah Garrett | Dreamgirls | "Love You I Do" | Nominated | Shared with Henry Krieger. |
| 2007 | Jamal Joseph Charles Mack Tevin Thomas | August Rush | "Raise It Up" | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Carlinhos Brown Siedah Garrett | Rio | "Real in Rio" | Nominated | Shared with Sergio Mendes. Garrett is the most nominated African-American female songwriter (two nominations). Brown is the first Black Latin American nominated for Best Original Song. |
| 2013 | Pharrell Williams | Despicable Me 2 | "Happy" | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Common John Legend | Selma | "Glory" | Won | |
| 2015 | DaHeala The Weeknd | Fifty Shades of Grey | "Earned It" | Nominated | Shared with Belly and Stephan Moccio. DaHeala and the Weekend are the first Black Canadian nominated for Best Original Song. |
| 2017 | Mary J. Blige Raphael Saadiq Taura Stinson | Mudbound | "Mighty River" | Nominated | Blige is also the first Black woman to receive multiple Academy Award nominations in the same year. First person nominated for an Academy Award for acting and writing an original song in the same year. |
| 2017 | Common | Marshall | "Stand Up for Something" | Nominated | Shared with Diane Warren. |
| 2018 | Kendrick Lamar Sounwave SZA Anthony Tiffith | Black Panther | "All the Stars" | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Cynthia Erivo Joshuah Brian Campbell | Harriet | "Stand Up" | Nominated | Second Black woman to receive multiple Academy Award nominations in the same year. Second person nominated for an Academy Award for acting and writing an original song in the same year. |
| 2020 | H.E.R. D'Mile Tiara Thomas | Judas and the Black Messiah | "Fight For You" | Won | |
| 2020 | Leslie Odom Jr. | One Night in Miami... | "Speak Now" | Nominated | First Black man to receive Academy Award nominations in the acting and music categories. Third person nominated for an Academy Award for acting and writing an original song in the same year. Shared with Sam Ashworth. |
| 2020 | Celeste | The Trial of the Chicago 7 | "Hear My Voice" | Nominated | Shared with Daniel Pemberton. |
| 2021 | Beyoncé DIXSON | King Richard | "Be Alive" | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Ryan Coogler Rihanna Tems | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | "Lift Me Up" | Nominated | Shared with Ludwig Göransson. |
| 2023 | Jon Batiste | American Symphony | "It Never Went Away" | Nominated | Shared with Dan Wilson. |
| 2024 | Abraham Alexander | Sing Sing | "Like a Bird" | Nominated | Shared with Adrian Quesada. |

## Best Picture

Academy Award for Best Picture :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1985 | Quincy Jones | The Color Purple | Nominated | First African American producer whose film was nominated for Best Picture. |
| 2009 | Lee Daniels | Precious | Nominated | First African American director whose film was nominated for Best Picture. First time two films with African American producers were nominated for Best Picture in the same year. |
| 2009 | Broderick Johnson | The Blind Side | Nominated | First African American director whose film was nominated for Best Picture. First time two films with African American producers were nominated for Best Picture in the same year. |
| 2012 | Reginald Hudlin | Django Unchained | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Steve McQueen | 12 Years a Slave | Won | First Black director and producer to win Best Picture. |
| 2014 | Oprah Winfrey | Selma | Nominated | First Black female producer nominated for Best Picture. |
| 2016 | Denzel Washington | Fences | Nominated | First time that three films with Black producers were nominated for Best Picture. |
| 2016 | Pharrell Williams | Hidden Figures | Nominated | First time that three films with Black producers were nominated for Best Picture. |
| 2016 | Kimberly Steward | Manchester by the Sea | Nominated | First time that three films with Black producers were nominated for Best Picture. |
| 2017 | Jordan Peele | Get Out | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Spike Lee Jordan Peele | BlacKkKlansman | Nominated | The first Best Picture nominee to have more than one African American producer. Peele is the first African American producer to be nominated for Best Picture twice. Shared with Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, and Sean McKittrick |
| 2020 | Shaka King Charles D. King Ryan Coogler | Judas and the Black Messiah | Nominated | First Best Picture nominee to have all black producers. |
| 2021 | Will Smith | King Richard | Nominated | Shared with Tim White and Trevor White. |
| 2023 | Cord Jefferson Jermaine Johnson | American Fiction | Nominated | Shared with Ben LeClair and Nikos Karamigios. |

## Best Production Design

Academy Award for Best Production Design :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 2018 | Hannah Beachler | | Black Panther | Won | First African American to be nominated for and to win Best Production Design. Shared with Jay Hart. |

## Best Short Film (Animated)

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film :
| Year | Name | Country | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 2017 | Kobe Bryant | | Dear Basketball | Won | Shared nomination with Glen Keane. First African American to win Short Film (Animated). First former professional athlete to be nominated for and to win an Academy Award in any category. First person to win both an Olympic medal and an Academy Award. |
| 2019 | Matthew A. Cherry Karen Rupert Toliver | | Hair Love | Won | Cherry is the second former professional athlete to be nominated for and to win an Academy Award in any category. Toliver is the first Black woman to win Short Film (Animated). |

## Best Short Film (Live Action)

Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1991 | David Massey | Last Breeze of Summer | Nominated | First African American nominated for Short Film (Live Action). |
| 1995 | Dianne Houston | Tuesday Morning Ride | Nominated | First African-American woman nominated for Short Film (Live Action). Shared with Joy Ride. |
| 2014 | James Lucas | The Phone Call | Won | First Black person to win in this category. Shared with Mat Kirkby. |
| 2017 | Kevin Wilson Jr. | My Nephew Emmett | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Travon Free | Two Distant Strangers | Won | First Black-American to win in this category Shared with Martin Desmond Roe. |
| 2023 | Misan Harriman | The After | Nominated | Shared with Nicky Bentham. |

## Best Sound

From 1963 to 1967, Best Sound Effects was awarded in addition to Best Sound. Until 1982, a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects was sometimes given. From 1983 until 2000, Sound Effects Editing was given as well as Best Sound. From 2001 through 2019, the category was known as "Best Sound Editing" or "Best Sound Mixing", plus the usual Best Sound award. From 2020 onward, the awards were merged into one: Best Sound
Academy Award for Best Sound :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1978 | Willie D. Burton | The Buddy Holly Story | Nominated | First African American to be nominated for Best Sound. |
| 1980 | Willie D. Burton | Altered States | Nominated | First African American to be nominated multiple times for Best Sound. |
| 1983 | Willie D. Burton | WarGames | Nominated | |
| 1988 | Willie D. Burton | Bird | Won | First African American to win Best Sound. |
| 1989 | Russell Williams II | Glory | Won | Second African American to win Best Sound. |
| 1990 | Russell Williams II | Dances with Wolves | Won | First African American to win multiple Academy Awards in any category. First and only African American to win consecutive awards in any category. |
| 1994 | Willie D. Burton | The Shawshank Redemption | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Willie D. Burton | The Green Mile | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Willie D. Burton | Dreamgirls | Won | The third African American to win two competitive Academy Awards. |
| 2023 | Willie D. Burton | Oppenheimer | Nominated | |

## Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay :
| Year | Name | Film | Adapted From | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1972 | Lonne Elder III | Sounder | Sounder by William H. Armstrong | Nominated | First African-American nominee for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay). First African-American nominated for screenwriting, along with Suzanne de Passe for Lady Sings the Blues nominated the same year for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). |
| 1984 | Charles Fuller | A Soldier's Story | A Soldier's Play by Fuller | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Geoffrey Fletcher | Precious | Push by Sapphire | Won | First African American to win a screenplay Academy Award (Adapted Screenplay). |
| 2013 | John Ridley | 12 Years a Slave | Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup | Won | First African-American writer to have written a film that won Best Picture. |
| 2016 | Barry Jenkins Tarell Alvin McCraney | Moonlight | In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by McCraney | Won | First film to have two African-American screenwriters nominated and to win. Second film to have African-American writers that won Best Picture. First time two films written by African-Americans were nominated in the same year. |
| 2016 | August Wilson | Fences | Fences by Wilson | Nominated | First African-American writer to receive a posthumous nomination in a writing category. First time two films written by African-Americans were nominated in the same year. |
| 2017 | Virgil Williams Dee Rees | Mudbound | Mudbound by Hillary Jordan | Nominated | Rees is the second Black woman to be nominated for a Screenplay Oscar. Rees is the first black woman to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. |
| 2018 | Kevin Willmott Spike Lee | BlacKkKlansman | Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth | Won | Shared with Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz. Lee is the first Black screenwriter to be nominated for both Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay. Lee is the first Black filmmaker to win a competitive Oscar after receiving an Honorary Academy Award. Along with Barry Jenkins nominated the same year for If Beale Street Could Talk, Lee and Jenkins are the first two black people to be nominated for screenwriting twice. |
| 2018 | Barry Jenkins | If Beale Street Could Talk | If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin | Nominated | First Black person to have two nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. Along with Spike Lee nominated the same year for BlacKkKlansman, Jenkins and Lee are the first two Black people to be nominated for screenwriting twice. |
| 2020 | Kemp Powers | One Night in Miami... | One Night in Miami by Powers | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Cord Jefferson | American Fiction | Erasure by Percival Everett | Won | |
| 2024 | RaMell Ross | Nickel Boys | The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead | Nominated | Shared with Joslyn Barnes. |
| 2024 | Clarence Maclin John "Divine G" Whitfield | Sing Sing | The Sing Sing Follies by John H. Richardson | Nominated | Shared with Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar. |

## Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay :
| Year | Name | Film | Status | Milestone / Notes |
| 1972 | Suzanne de Passe | Lady Sings the Blues | Nominated | Shared nomination with co-writers Chris Clark and Terence McCloy. First African-American nominee for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). First African-American nominated for screenwriting, along with Lonne Elder III for Sounder nominated the same year for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay). First African-American woman nominated for screenwriting. First African-American woman nominated for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). |
| 1989 | Spike Lee | Do the Right Thing | Nominated | First African-American man nominated for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). |
| 1991 | John Singleton | Boyz n the Hood | Nominated | Youngest person to be nominated in this category (age 24). |
| 2017 | Jordan Peele | Get Out | Won | First African-American to win Best Writing (Original Screenplay). First African-American to be nominated for and to win Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for a debut film. |
| 2020 | Shaka King Kenny Lucas Keith Lucas | Judas and the Black Messiah | Nominated | First film to have multiple African-American screenwriters nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Shared with Will Berson. |

## Special awards

Special Awards :
| Year | Name | Award |
| 1947 | James Baskett | Academy Special Award, for his characterization of Uncle Remus in Song of the South. First Black man to receive an Oscar. |
| 1995 | Quincy Jones | Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| 2001 | Sidney Poitier | Academy Honorary Award, "for his extraordinary performances and unique presence on the screen and for representing the industry with dignity, style and intelligence". |
| 2011 | James Earl Jones | Academy Honorary Award, "for his legacy of consistent excellence and uncommon versatility" |
| 2011 | Oprah Winfrey | Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| 2014 | Harry Belafonte | Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| 2015 | Spike Lee | Academy Honorary Award, "filmmaker, educator, motivator, iconoclast, artist […] [and] a champion of independent film and an inspiration to young filmmakers" |
| 2017 | Charles Burnett | Academy Honorary Award, “A resolutely independent and influential film pioneer who has chronicled the lives of Black Americans with eloquence and insight.” |
| 2018 | Cicely Tyson | Academy Honorary Award, "Whose unforgettable performances and personal integrity have inspired generations of filmmakers, actors and audiences" |
| 2020 | Tyler Perry | Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| 2021 | Danny Glover | Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| 2021 | Samuel L. Jackson | Academy Honorary Award, "Sam Jackson is a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across decades and generations and audiences worldwide" |
| 2022 | Euzhan Palcy | Academy Honorary Award, "a pioneering filmmaker whose groundbreaking significance in international cinema is cemented in film history" |
| 2023 | Angela Bassett | Academy Honorary Award, "Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting" |
| 2024 | Quincy Jones | Academy Honorary Award, "for his artistic genius, relentless creativity and trailblazing legacy in film music" First Black person to receive two Honorary Oscars First Black person to receive a posthumous Honorary Oscar |

## Nominees by decade (acting categories)

| Decade | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
| Lead Actor | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| Lead Actress | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Supp. Actor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Supp. Actress | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 20 |