1985 – Whoopi Goldberg, nominated for The Color Purple (Photo: Instagram, @vjerap)
1974 – Diahann Carroll, nominated for Claudine (Photo: Instagram, @thirdeyevideo)
1972 – Paul Winfield, nominated for The Sounder (Photo: Instagram, @collegevalerie)
1972 – Diana Ross, nominated for Lady Sings the Blues (Photo: Instagram, @blackimagines)
1972 – Cicely Tyson, nominated for The Sounder (Photo: Instagram, @cicelytyson_)
1970 – James Earl Jones, nominated for The Great White Hope (Photo: Instagram, @colorful_oldhollywood)
1963 – Sidney Poitier, WON for Lilies of the Field (Photo: Instagram, @thatvintagedame)
1958 – Sidney Poitier, nominated for The Defiant Ones (Photo: Instagram, @vintagemovieclub)
1954 – Dorothy Dandridge, nominated for Carmen Jones (Photo: Instagram, @dandridgelove)
The #OscarsSoWhite debate is gaining momentum after major stars have announced a boycott of the event after no non-white actors were nominated in the acting categories for the second consecutive year. Here is a list of past nominees and winners who managed to momentarily halt the trend.