This story first appeared in the Feb. 5 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
Sidney Poitier, Lead Actor
Film: Lilies of the Field (1963)
Role: Unemployed
Denzel Washington, Lead Actor
Film: Training Day (2001)
Role: Tyrant, violent
Jamie Foxx, Lead Actor
Film: Ray (2004)
Role: Drug addict, musician
Forest Whitaker, Lead Actor
Film: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Role: Tyrant, diva, violent
Halle Berry, Lead Actress
Film: Monster’s Ball (2001)
Role: Drug addict, single parent
Louis Gossett Jr., Supporting Actor
Film: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Role: Tyrant, violent
Denzel Washington, Supporting Actor
Film: Glory (1989)
Role: Slave
Cuba Gooding Jr., Supporting Actor
Film: Jerry Maguire (1996)
Role: Sports figure, diva
Morgan Freeman, Supporting Actor
Film: Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Role: Sports figure
Hattie McDaniel, Supporting Actress
Film: Gone With the Wind (1939)
Role: Domestic help, slave
Whoopi Goldberg, Supporting Actress
Film: Ghost (1990)
Role: Con artist
Jennifer Hudson, Supporting Actress
Film: Dreamgirls (2006)
Role: Diva, musician
Mo’Nique, Supporting Actress
Film: Precious (2009)
Role: Con artist, drug addict, single parent, unemployed, violent
Octavia Spencer, Supporting Actress
Film: The Help (2011)
Role: Domestic help
Lupita Nyong’o, Supporting Actress
Film: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Role: Slave
