Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor win at the 98th Academy Awards marked a significant moment on multiple levels. It served as the culmination of a career that spans more than 25 years, and at the same time, the win placed him in a group that remains notably small, even now. In nearly a century of the Oscars, only five Black men had previously received the honor for Best Actor in a Leading Role, making Jordan’s addition to that list historic, and long overdue.
During his acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles last weekend, Jordan made it clear he understood the significance of the moment. “I stand here because of the people that came before me,” he said, naming Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith, alongside Halle Berry, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001. The list was brief, a reminder of how few have reached that stage.
Poitier opened the door in 1964 with his effort in Lilies of the Field, setting the standard for his successors to build upon. Denzel’s win for Training Day solidified his standing as one of the most respected actors of his generation, while Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles and Whitaker’s performance in The Last King of Scotland remain talked about to this day. Smith’s win for King Richard was an exclamation to an already legendary career, and now, Jordan joins that group, for his phenomenal showing as Elijah and Elias Moore, the twin brothers better known as “Smoke” and “Stack” in Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed film, Sinners.
Throughout the years, ESSENCE has documented the success of these actors in real time, often long before the awards arrived. Washington appeared on the cover on several occasions in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, while Smith’s early career was also captured during his rise. The stories behind Foxx, Whitaker, and Jordan’s covers also trace a similar path, from ensemble features (at times, together) to solo recognition.
Here are the Black Best Actor winners who’ve graced the cover of ESSENCE Magazine.
