Academy Awards make history with 7 black winners

2019 Oscars Make History with 7 Black Winners Seven black men and women took home Academy Awards this year. This is the most since the five black winners in 2017. The Academy had previously been called out for their lack of diversity with #OscarSoWhite. Here’s who made history. Regina King Ruth E. Carter Hannah Beachler Mahershala Ali Peter Ramsey Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott This year’s awards also set a record for the most female winners with a total of 15.

Oscars aren’t so white anymore.

After three years of #OscarsSoWhite trending on social media, this year’s Academy Awards saw a new hashtag: #OscarsSoBlack.

While it was historic that seven black men and women took home an Oscar on Sunday, many of those winners made history themselves.

Mahershala Ali: Ali is the first black actor to win two Oscars for best supporting actor. His first was for "Moonlight." This year's award was for his portrayal of classical pianist Don Shirley in "Green Book."

Ruth Carter: Carter is the first African-American to an Academy Award for costume design. Carter gave the characters in Atlanta-filmed "Black Panther" incredible style with her Afro-futuristic wardrobe designs.

» 'Black Panther' costume designer blazes trail to inspire

Hannah Beachler: Beachler is the first African-American to take home the Oscar for production design. She brought the kingdom of Wakanda to life for "Black Panther."

Peter Ramsey: Ramsey made Oscars history Sunday as the first black winner for best animated feature. He co-directed "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."

The other three award winners were Regina King, best supporting actress for "If Beale Street Could Talk"; and Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott, best adapted screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman."

» Spike Lee's Oscar journey started at Morehouse and Clark Atlanta

» President Donald Trump goes after Spike Lee over Oscars speech

» Atlanta-filmed 'Black Panther' takes home 3 Academy Awards

Billy Porter also turned heads in a first — by wearing a gown on the red carpet. Yes, “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wore dresses to the 2000 Oscars, but they did so as a joke. Porter had fashion designer Christian Siriano create his tux on top/gown couture piece.

The awards show even had a civil rights icon as a presenter. U.S. Rep. John Lewis took the stage to introduce a clip from "Green Book," which went on to win best picture.

He received a standing ovation when he walked onto the stage.

“I can bear witness that the portrait of that time and place in our history is very real. It is seared in my memory,” Lewis said.

“Our nation bears the scars of that time, as do I,” said the human rights advocate, who was beaten by troopers at the infamous Bloody Sunday march in Alabama.

» Listen: 'Black Panther' and Georgia-filmed movies nominated for Oscars

» 'Green Book' producers thrilled by win, downplay controversy

Twitter users were quick to share their feelings on the historic night.

Some people, however, thought the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took the cry for diversity and inclusion too far.