In 2001, Halle Berry made history by being the first Black woman to ever win an Oscar for "Best Actress." She won it for her role as Leticia Musgrove in the romantic drama film "Monster's Ball." Berry was a favorite going into the award for her compelling lead performance, but it was still hard to believe going in that she'd be able to break the category's 70+ streak of white actresses winning. It was like how nobody could quite believe in 2008 that Barack Obama would become the first Black president; the polls said he had a good shot, but conventional wisdom said otherwise.

"This moment is so much bigger than me," Berry said in her emotional speech . "This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, and Diahann Carroll. It's for the women who stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela

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