Although the reality of the situation is infuriating, the #OscarsSoWhite controversy does have a silver lining: The reactions have been top-notch. Saturday Night Live, for example, lampooned the industry’s one-sided favoritism in one of the show's funniest skits in recent memory; HBO's Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, meanwhile, put together a razor-sharp video package analyzing Hollywood’s "whitewashing" epidemic. And on the more serious side, Variety's latest cover story is an exhaustive oral history of the small group of black actors and filmmakers who've won Academy Awards.

Here on TribecaFilm.com, the conversation around diversity has been ongoing since well before the Academy's nominations announcement in early January. Before the masses started rightfully lambasting the Academy for snubbing Straight Outta Compton, we made the case for why each of its three leads (Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, O'Shea Jackson, Jr.) deserved Best Actor recognition. Back when Ryan Coogler's Creed opened in late November, we praised its awards season clout and singled out co-star Tessa Thompson's underrated performance as the film's heart and soul. Earlier this week, the news about Ava DuVernay's upcoming slate of science fiction projects led us to address genre cinema’s need for fresh, non-white-male voices. And at the height of the #OscarsSoWhite backlash, we provided a list of upcoming 2016 movies that could potentially right the Academy’s wrongs come 2017.

Will the recent uproar around this issue actually lead to any substantial changes in Hollywood? Only time will tell, but if history is any indication, whatever small changes do happen won't be tangible right away—it's going to be a long haul. But please believe, TribecaFilm.com will continue to beat the drum and celebrate diversity in storytelling. We've put together a slideshow, which you'll find above, celebrating the 29 black men and women who've defied the odds and won Academy Awards over the last 80 years. Here's the full list:

1939: Hattie McDaniel, Gone with the Wind (Best Supporting Actress)

1963: Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field (Best Actor)

1971; Isaac Hayes, Shaft (Best Original Song, "Theme from Shaft")

1982: Louis Gossett, Jr., An Officer and a Gentleman (Best Supporting Actor)

1983: Irene Cara, Flashdance (Best Original Song, "Flashdance… What a Feeling")

1984: Prince, Purple Rain (Best Original Score)

1984: Stevie Wonder, The Woman in Red (Best Original Song, "I Just Called to Say I Love You")

1985: Lionel Richie, White Nights (Best Original Song, "Say You, Say Me")

1986: Herbie Hancock, Round Midnight (Best Original Score)

1989: Denzel Washington, Glory (Best Supporting Actor)

1990: Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost (Best Supporting Actress)

1990: Russell Williams, Dances With Wolves (Best Sound Mixing)

1996: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jerry Maguire (Best Supporting Actor)

2001: Denzel Washington, Training Day (Best Actor)

2001: Halle Berry, Monster's Ball (Best Actress)

2004: Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby (Best Supporting Actor)

2004: Jamie Foxx, Ray (Best Actor)

2005: Three 6 Mafia, Hustle & Flow (Best Original Song, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp")

2006: Willie D. Burton, Dreamgirls (Best Sound Mixing)

2006: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (Best Actor)

2006: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls (Best Supporting Actress)

2009: Roger Ross Williams, Music By Prudence (Best Documentary Short Subject)

2009: Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious (Best Adapted Screenplay)

2009: Mo'Nique, Precious (Best Supporting Actress)

2011: Octavia Spencer, The Help (Best Supporting Actress)

2012: T.J. Martin, co-director, Undefeated (Best Documentary Feature)

2013: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave (Best Supporting Actress)

2013: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave (Best Adapted Screenplay)

2013: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave (Best Picture)

2014: Common and John Legend, Selma (Best Original Song, "Glory")



The heroic Hattie McDaniel transcended her role to become the first black artist to win an Oscar.
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The heroic Hattie McDaniel transcended her role to become the first black artist to win an Oscar.
Legendary industry trailblazer Sidney Poitier became the first black man to win an Oscar in 1964.
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Legendary industry trailblazer Sidney Poitier became the first black man to win an Oscar in 1964.
In 1972, Isaac Hayes picked up an Oscar for composing the instantly-iconic theme song for SHAFT.
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In 1972, Isaac Hayes picked up an Oscar for composing the instantly-iconic theme song for SHAFT.
Character actor Louis Gossett, Jr. is the first black performer to nab a Supporting Actor trophy.
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Character actor Louis Gossett, Jr. is the first black performer to nab a Supporting Actor trophy.
Irene Cara collected an Oscar in 1984 for co-creating a perfect pop theme song for FLASHDANCE.
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Irene Cara collected an Oscar in 1984 for co-creating a perfect pop theme song for FLASHDANCE.
Did you know that Prince is the last winner of The Academy's Best Original Song Score category?
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Did you know that Prince is the last winner of The Academy's Best Original Song Score category?
Legendary songsmith Stevie Wonder picked up a Best Original Song Oscar in 1985.
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Legendary songsmith Stevie Wonder picked up a Best Original Song Oscar in 1985.
Music legend Lionel Richie nabbed a Best Original Song Oscar for WHITE NIGHTS' "Say You, Say Me."
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Music legend Lionel Richie nabbed a Best Original Song Oscar for WHITE NIGHTS' "Say You, Say Me."
Eclectic music icon Herbie Hancock earned an Oscar in 1987 for 'ROUND MIDNIGHT's original score.
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Eclectic music icon Herbie Hancock earned an Oscar in 1987 for 'ROUND MIDNIGHT's original score.
Acting great Denzel Washington won the first of two Oscars for his powerful performance in GLORY.
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Acting great Denzel Washington won the first of two Oscars for his powerful performance in GLORY.
Queen Whoopi Goldberg won a Supporting Actress Oscar in 1991 for her iconic performance in GHOST.
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Queen Whoopi Goldberg won a Supporting Actress Oscar in 1991 for her iconic performance in GHOST.
Acclaimed sound engineer Russell Williams nabbed back-to-back Best Sound Oscars in 1990 and 1991.
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Acclaimed sound engineer Russell Williams nabbed back-to-back Best Sound Oscars in 1990 and 1991.
Cuba Gooding, Jr. earned his Supporting Oscar for an instantly-iconic performance in JERRY MAGUIRE.
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Cuba Gooding, Jr. earned his Supporting Oscar for an instantly-iconic performance in JERRY MAGUIRE.
Denzel Washington gave us an indelible villain and got a richly-deserved 2nd Oscar for doing so.
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Denzel Washington gave us an indelible villain and got a richly-deserved 2nd Oscar for doing so.
Halle Berry shattered Hollywood's barriers to become the first black Best Actress winner in 2002.
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Halle Berry shattered Hollywood's barriers to become the first black Best Actress winner in 2002.
Living legend Morgan Freeman finally won his Oscar after 40 groundbreaking years in the business.
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Living legend Morgan Freeman finally won his Oscar after 40 groundbreaking years in the business.
Jamie Foxx earned an Oscar for bringing the great Ray Charles back to life on the big screen
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Jamie Foxx earned an Oscar for bringing the great Ray Charles back to life on the big screen
In 2006, Three 6 Mafia earned Oscars for penning HUSTLE & FLOW's "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."
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In 2006, Three 6 Mafia earned Oscars for penning HUSTLE & FLOW's "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."
Sound mixer Willie D. Burton has won two Oscars over the course of an incredibly prolific career.
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Sound mixer Willie D. Burton has won two Oscars over the course of an incredibly prolific career.
The superb Forest Whitaker collected an Oscar in 2007 for his ferociously unforgettable Idi Amin.
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The superb Forest Whitaker collected an Oscar in 2007 for his ferociously unforgettable Idi Amin.
Jennifer Hudson earned her Oscar for bringing one of theater's greatest characters to the big screen.
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Jennifer Hudson earned her Oscar for bringing one of theater's greatest characters to the big screen.
Documentarian and Tribeca alumnus Roger Ross Will is the first ever black Oscar-winning director.
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Documentarian and Tribeca alumnus Roger Ross Will is the first ever black Oscar-winning director.
In 2010, PRECIOUS' Geoffrey Fletcher became the first black artist to earn a screenwriting Oscar.
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In 2010, PRECIOUS' Geoffrey Fletcher became the first black artist to earn a screenwriting Oscar.
Mo'Nique gave one of the best film performances of all time and got an Oscar for her genius.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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Mo'Nique gave one of the best film performances of all time and got an Oscar for her genius.
Octavia Spencer won a richly-deserved Oscar for some enlivening and invaluable supporting work.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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Octavia Spencer won a richly-deserved Oscar for some enlivening and invaluable supporting work.
T.J. Martin is the first black director to nab a Best Documentary Feature Oscar from The Academy.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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T.J. Martin is the first black director to nab a Best Documentary Feature Oscar from The Academy.
The superb Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for delivering one of the greatest big screen debuts ever.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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The superb Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for delivering one of the greatest big screen debuts ever.
John Ridley won his Oscar for translating Solomon Northup's harrowing story for the big screen.
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John Ridley won his Oscar for translating Solomon Northup's harrowing story for the big screen.
The bold and brilliant Steve McQueen is the first black filmmaker to win a Best Picture Oscar.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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The bold and brilliant Steve McQueen is the first black filmmaker to win a Best Picture Oscar.
Common and John Legend collected Oscars for their triumphant "Glory" from Ava DuVernay's SELMA.
Photo Illustration by Karly Herrera
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Common and John Legend collected Oscars for their triumphant "Glory" from Ava DuVernay's SELMA.