To pretend otherwise would be to start a new conversation altogether. In reality, the history between the Oscars and the recognition of black artists, especially black female artists, is complicated and frustrating. Yearly speculations become disappointments, Twitter goes into a frenzy, and the questions continue to circle back to who is being recognized, who is not, and who is consequently overlooked. Many go unnoticed with the passage of time, but some blunders are so obvious they leave a dim mark on Oscar history. Here’s a top ten countdown of the most memorable instances the Academy got it wrong.
10. Will Smith — Ali (2001)
More than acting as Muhammad Ali, Will Smith was Muhammad Ali. Starting from physical to emotional transformations, the performance was one of the toughest of his career. Though he won a nomination, the award went to Denzel Washington’s Training Day. It was definitely a good win, but the physical and emotional metamorphosis of Will Smith should have stood at the top.
9. Eddie Murphy — Dreamgirls (2006)
Eddie Murphy’s performance as James “Thunder” Early stripped away his comedic armor and revealed a deeply tragic character. He was widely seen as the favorite going into Oscar night, only to lose to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine. The loss reportedly hit Murphy hard, and it marked a turning point in his relationship with Hollywood awards recognition.
8. Jurnee Smollett — Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Even as a child, Jurnee Smollett delivered a performance with astonishing emotional depth in Eve’s Bayou. The film became a beloved classic and was later added to the National Film Registry, yet Smollett didn’t receive so much as an Oscar nomination. Despite acclaim from critics’ groups, the Academy overlooked one of the most impressive young performances of the decade.
7. Michael B. Jordan — Fruitvale Station (2013)
Before blockbuster franchises came calling, Michael B. Jordan stunned audiences as Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station. His portrayal was raw, intimate, and devastatingly human. The film launched Jordan into stardom, but the Academy failed to acknowledge his work. While critics showered him with praise, Oscar voters remained silent.
6. Angela Bassett — What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Angela Bassett didn’t just portray Tina Turner; she unleashed her. Her performance captured Turner’s pain, resilience, and fire with remarkable intensity. Though Bassett earned a nomination, she lost to Holly Hunter for The Piano. Decades later, many still argue this was one of the Academy’s most glaring missed opportunities.
5. Whoopi Goldberg — The Color Purple (1985)
Whoopi Goldberg’s debut performance as Celie was nothing short of extraordinary. The Color Purple received eleven nominations but walked away empty-handed, a shutout that remains infamous. Goldberg lost Best Actress to Geraldine Page, and the film’s total loss is often cited as one of the most baffling Oscar outcomes ever.
4. Denzel Washington — Malcolm X (1992)
Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances in American film history. His transformation was meticulous and deeply affecting, yet the Oscar went to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. Director Spike Lee has repeatedly called this decision a historic injustice, and many agree.
3. Viola Davis — The Woman King (2022)
By the time The Woman King premiered, Viola Davis was already an acting legend. Her commanding, physically demanding performance was widely expected to land her another nomination. Instead, she was shut out entirely. The snub reignited criticism of how the Academy treats Black women, especially in films that don’t fit traditional prestige molds.
2. Danielle Deadwyler — Till (2022)
Danielle Deadwyler’s portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley was widely considered one of the most powerful performances of the year. Her omission from the Best Actress lineup shocked critics and audiences alike. Many saw it as emblematic of a system that routinely undervalues Black women’s grief-centered narratives, particularly when industry politics enter the conversation.
1. Halle Berry — Still the Only One (2002)
The most damning statistic isn’t about a single snub; it’s about absence. In nearly 100 years of Oscar history, Halle Berry remains the only Black woman to win Best Actress. That reality looms over every awards season and serves as a stark reminder of how limited recognition has been at the highest level.
These moments aren’t just about trophies that didn’t get handed out. They reflect deeper issues about whose stories are championed, whose performances are seen as “universal,” and whose excellence is repeatedly sidelined. While movements like OscarsSoWhite have pushed the Academy to confront its biases, progress remains uneven and painfully slow.
Black artists have always found ways to tell their stories and celebrate one another, with or without Oscar validation. Still, until these patterns truly change, the Academy’s credibility will continue to face well-earned scrutiny, year after year.