The WDCW-TV documentary, “Hattie’s Lost Legacy” was presented the “Outstanding Documentary/Local Market” National Gracie award by the Alliance for Women in the Media last week in Hollywood. “Hattie’s Lost Legacy” recounts the story of Oscar Winner Hattie McDaniel’s life, focusing on the disappearance of her historic Oscar from Howard University in Washington DC.

“Hattie’s Lost Legacy” premiered in February 2011 as part of DC50’s “Living Black History” local programming campaign.

Born in 1892, Hattie McDaniel was both a singer and actress. Throughout the 1930’s McDaniel co-starred in various movies, including “Gone with the Wind” which also won the Best Picture Oscar in 1939. McDaniel was the first African America to not only attend an Oscar ceremony; she was also the first to win an Oscar (for Best Supporting Actress as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind”).

Upon her death, McDaniel left her historic Oscar to Howard University in Washington, DC as a “beacon of hope and inspiration for students.” In the late 1960’s the Oscar was misplaced, stolen, lost or possibly even thrown into the Potomac River. In the WDCW-TV documentary, McDaniel’s great-great-niece, Kim Goff-Crews, as well as several film historians discuss their firm belief that the Oscar should be replaced.

“Hattie’s Lost Legacy” is also a 2012 finalist in the National Association of Black Journalists television awards in the documentary category. In addition, it is also nominated for a Washington Regional Emmy in the Documentary/Historic category.