The Most Groundbreaking and Historic Oscars Wins

In 1973, the actress/activist took the stage on winner Marlon Brando's behalf to refuse the Best Actor Oscar he was awarded for his role in The Godfather. Brando refused the award because of Hollywood's treatment and portrayal of Native Americans.

The actress won the Oscar for Best Actress -- her second -- for the iconic horror film The Silence of the Lambs in 1992.

Kaluuya, who won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Judas and the Black Messiah, poses at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. 

Smith accepted his first-ever Oscar win for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2022, but it didn't come without controversy. Prior to his win, he slapped Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The famed comedian won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1998 for Good Will Hunting. 

Lee won his first-ever Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2019 for BlacKkKlansman.

Ali took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight in 2017, becoming the first man of Islamic faith to win an Academy Award.

The actor, director, writer and producer won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out in 2018, making Peele the first Black person to win in this category.

The music trio was the first rap group to win an Oscar for Best Original Song for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow. They also performed at the Oscars in 2006. 

Producer Landau and director Cameron pose with the Best Picture Oscar after Titanic won big at the Academy Awards on March 23, 1998 in Los Angeles, California.

In 2002, the Monster's Ball star became the first and only Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress.