Those Little Golden Statuettes

I can in no way claim to know how it feels to be a Black actor/director, but I can answer this question as an audience member, and as a member of the American public.

Personally, awards do not really mean that much to me, especially American ones like the Oscars. I've become resigned to the fact that the types of films that I esteem highly are not going to garner many accolades. But I'm also used to my film recommendations being met with the question, "Oh, has it won any awards?" So I know that other people (maybe even most people) are not so awards-jaded. There are people who watch award-winning films because they look interesting, and there are people who rush out to see them because they have won something. So getting an "official" honor does not necessarily win a film or its makers my respect, but it will often gain more box office receipts, and thus, success, as that is often judged monetarily. And having a title like "Oscar winner" next to someone's name would probably make both the American public, and industry executives, judge them as a more "professional" actor/director, as opposed to an "amateur." I mean, think of any actor or director who has won a highly-honored award or made a box office hit—only afterward are they considered successful, or a "real" actor/director, because only then has anyone heard of them.

So I think that awards can be hugely influential in the building of success/professional legitimization, but I think that this relates to actors/directors of any racial/ethnic group, not just Black Americans. I can't know the pressures Black American actors/directors face, not being Black, or an aspiring actor or director, but this is a very tough business for everyone involved, regardless of race. So yes, awards are paramount for Black American actors/directors in finding prosperity and respect, but they also just as important for anyone with the same aspirations.