Essay from the year 2011 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,7, University of Bayreuth (Sprachenzentrum), course: Essay Writing II - Academic Writing, language: English, abstract: In 2002, the awarding of the Oscars, which is the most important distinction in the movie business, took place, and that year black actor Denzel Washington was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, just as his colleague Halle Berry ('Oscars'). Whereas Washington's win was the first for a black actor since 1964, when Sidney Poitier had won this award, it seemed to become a turning point for African Americans ('Best Actor'). Halle Berry won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and, consequently, she became the first black woman to win this honor ('Best Actress'). For Washington it should not have been easy because one of his opponents was Russel Crowe, who had already won this award the previous year ('Oscars'). After the announcement, everybody in the Kodak Theatre stood up to applaud for Washington who has won his category. Therefore, the fact that blacks have been treated differently in the movie business came to people's minds; it can even be maintained that Hollywood is racist toward blacks.
