She’s regal, she’s accomplished, she’s proud; and she gave one hell of an acceptance speech when she made history as the first Black woman to win the Emmy for lead actress in a drama series. Viola Davis, who plays the bold Annalise Keating on How to Get Away With Murder, became the first black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a drama series at the 67th annual Emmy Awards Sunday night.
Davis out beat fellow nominees Taraji P. Henson, Tatiana Maslany, Elizabeth Moss, Robin Wright, and Claire Danes.
During her moving, stirring acceptance speech, the Juilliard -trained actress quoted Harriet Tubman, illustrating the hurdles that black actresses face in today’s industry.
“‘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 color 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.”
Two more black actresses also took home Emmys that night. Veteran actress Regina King won for her role in American Crime and Uzo Aduba got her second statuette for her role in Orange is the New Black.
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