(Photo By Flickr User Rossano (aka Bud Care))

Black History Today for February 29th:

1940- Hattie McDaniel known for her supporting roles became the first African-American to win the Oscar Award for her role as ‘Mammy’ in the movie ‘Gone With The Wind’ on this day. Not only was she the first African-American to receive this award, but the was the only woman to have received it until Whoopi Goldberg received the same award for her role in the movie ‘Ghost‘ (1990; fifty years later).

1945- Football player and actor Charles Aaron “Bubba” Smith was born in Orange, TX. Smith began his professional football career with the Baltimore Colts. He later played for the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders before retiring and making a name for himself in movies.

1968- National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (the Kerner Commission) said white racism was the fundamental cause of the riots in American cities. The commission said America was “moving toward two societies, one Black, one white, separate and unequal. Also on this day, Juanita Hall Singer & Actress died in Bayshore, NY. This singer, actress, and choral director was best-known for her role as Bloody Mary in the 1949 Broadway stage production of South Pacific.

(Information courtesy of blackfacts.com)