Will Lee Danbiels Make History With Precious

Lee Daniels, the out director of the critically acclaimed movie Precious, has a solid chance of becoming the first black director to win an Oscar when the awards are handed out in March.

Earlier this month Daniels became the first black director to be nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award. He would be the second black to be nominated for an Oscar for directing -- John Singleton was nominated for directing 1991's Boyz N the Hood.

Interestingly, Daniels would be at least the fourth gay director to win the prize. Vincente Minnelli won in 1959 for directing Gigi. In 1965, George Cukor took home the prize for My Fair Lady, and John Schlesinger won for directing Midnight Cowboy in 1970.

This year a woman also has a strong shot at taking home top honors. Kathryn Bigelow is a likely nominee for her war drama The Hurt Locker.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced February 2.