The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, have a complex history when it comes to Black achievements. The first Black performer to win an Academy Award was Hattie McDaniel, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Gone with the Wind" in 1940. However, McDaniel faced segregation and discrimination at the Oscars ceremony and was not allowed to sit with her white co-stars.

It wasn't until 1964 that Sidney Poitier became the first Black actor to win the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in "Lilies of the Field." Over the years, more Black actors and filmmakers have been recognized by the Academy, including Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Octavia Spencer, and Jordan Peele.

Despite some progress, the Academy Awards have faced criticism for their lack of diversity and inclusion. The #OscarsSoWhite movement emerged in 2015 to highlight the lack of nominations for Black talent in the major award categories. The Academy has since made efforts to increase diversity among its members and nominees, but there is still work to be done to ensure equal recognition for Black artists in the film industry.