April 13
Sidney Poitier Wins Academy Award
On April 13, 1964, Sidney Poitier won the Academy Award for Best Actor for "Lilies of the Field," becoming the first African American to receive the honor.
Sidney Poitier Wins Best Actor Oscar
On April 13, 1964, Sidney Poitier won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in "Lilies of the Field." He was the first Black man to win the award. His performances in films like "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" challenged racial stereotypes in Hollywood.
Tiger Woods Wins First Masters
On April 13, 1997, Tiger Woods won the Masters with a record-breaking 12-stroke victory. He became the youngest Masters champion and broke numerous racial barriers in golf, a sport that had long excluded Black players.
Nella Larsen Born
Born April 13, 1891, Nella Larsen was one of the foremost writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Her novels explored themes of racial identity, "passing," and the constraints facing Black women. She was the first African American woman to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship.