Black Academy Award winners honor people who came before them and made their day possible
The Academy Awards are often very emotional. Winners scream. Others sit for a fe moments quietly shocked when their names are called. While others are disappointed when someone else’s name is called. One such moment occurred when Kavin Spacey won the 2000 Academy Award for “American Beauty” over Denzel Washington for “The Hurricane.” A disappointed Washington snapped his fingers and sat back in his chair. The 98th Academy Award on Sunday was that and more. Michael B. Jordan won the Academy Award for Best Actor for “Sinners.” With his mother by his side and his father somewhere in the audience, he thanked all of the Black men and women who had won the award before him. “I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. And to be amongst those giants, amongst those great greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys…” Jordan declared. “Thank you, everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me.” Jordan celebrated Sunday night, giving unsuspecting fans a thrill when he swung by an In-N-Out Burger with his lead actor Oscar after the Academy Awards. Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first-ever Black female winner for Best Cinematography for “Sinners.” She told all the women in the audience to stand up because their support helped make her win possible. “I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and gotten to meet so many people, and I just feel like moments like this happen because of you guys,” she said. Arkapaw is also the first Black cinematographer to win this award. Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for “Sinners” at the 2026 Oscars. It was his first Oscar win, with five nominations total to his name. He received a standing ovation and became overwhelmed with emotion as he accepted. “This is an incredible honor. I want to thank my fellow nominees for the gifts that your movies were and your friendship over the past few months,” said Coogler. He also thanked his wife and his parents, saying they helped him believe in himself. |
 |