The Emmy Awards 2015, held last night, was such a breakthrough night for Black actresses in Tinseltown TV that I simply had to share the highlights here.
I woke up feeling like a conqueror today. Like I was built for success and greatness. How was I to know that it was the triumphs of my sisters that was calling me from beyond the seas to stand UP, do SOMETHING, fight HARDER and conquer?
Viola Davis started me off on the greatness – she won the Emmy for her role as Annalise Keating on ABC’s hit freshman show ‘How to Get Away with Murder’
Her acceptance speech moved every Black woman in the room (and a few of us at home) to tears, as she opened by quoting the slave trade abolitionist Harriet Tubman and then finally giving thanks for the OPPORTUNITY to even excel; to show what she is made of:
‘In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line. But I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.’ That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s. And let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity.
You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So, here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes. People who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black. And to the Taraji P. Hensons and Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goodes, to Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you for the Television Academy. Thank you.
.@TherealTaraji & @kerrywashington react to @violadavis' #Emmys speech pic.twitter.com/3hH0eWoxuJ
— TVLine.com (@TVLine) September 21, 2015
And the tweets wouldn’t stop flooding in!
Wow , WOW! Another proud to spell my name W.O.M.A.N. Moment. Thank you @violadavis #EmmyWinner
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) September 21, 2015
.@shondarhimes Couldn't have happened without you dear Shonda. Thanks for kicking that door open wide enough for @violadavis to soar thru.
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) September 21, 2015
.@ViolaDavis, you're spectacular. #Emmys
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 21, 2015
Congrats @violadavis for your Emmy win and thank you for that beautiful speech đ«đ«đ« https://t.co/YRFbqx6mhc
— Sanaa Lathan (@justsanaa) September 21, 2015
What a time to be alive. #Emmys2015 #BlackGirlMagic pic.twitter.com/U5l5KB9xX6
— sabby đ (@sabrinadunn) September 21, 2015
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