Best Supporting Actress - Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American win an Oscar. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and she won for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939).
In 1950, Juanita Hall became the first African-American woman to win a Tony Award in the supporting actress category. She won the award for her performance as Bloody Mary in South Pacific.In 2004, Phylicia Rashad became the first African-American woman to win a Tony Award in lead actress category. She won the award for her performance of the hardened matriarch Lena Younger in the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.
The first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature was Gwendolyn Brooks. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for her book of poetry titled "Annie Allen." Brooks was a pioneering poet who explored the African American experience in her work.
The answer to your question depends on the Oscar categories you are interested in knowing about. For instance, if you are interested in knowing about the winners in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category, then there has only been one African American woman to win: Halle Berry in 2001 for her role in Monster's Ball. However, if you include other categories, such as Best Actress in a Supporting Role, the list expands. For instance, the first African American woman to win in this category was Hattie McDaniel in 1939 for her role in Gone with the Wind. The second African American woman to win in this category was Whoopi Goldberg in 1990 for her role in Ghost. So, if one includes this other category, it appears that Whoopi Goldberg is the second African American woman to win an Oscar.
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was the first African-American, first African-American Poet, and first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. She was awarded the 1950 Pulitzer for Poetry for her acclaimed collection, Annie Allen.
The first African American to win a Golden Globe Award was Sidney Poitier. He won it in 1964 for his performance in 'Lilies of the Field.'
Isaac Hayes was the first African American to win the Oscar for Best Song. He won for writing the "Theme from Shaft" in 1971.
Althea Gibson
The first African American to win a Golden Globe Award was Sidney Poitier. He won it in 1964 for his performance in 'Lilies of the Field.'
Toni Morrison, was the first African American woman to win a nobel prize in literature in 1993
Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win Best Supporting Actress. She won for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939).
Virginia Hamilton was the first African American author to win the Newbery Medal. She won in 1975 for her book "M.C. Higgins, the Great."
Anthony Ervin is the first swimmer of African American descent to win a gold medal. Ervin is of African American and Native American descent on his father's side, and Jewish American on his mother's side.