It was a rare and special night for Black women in Hollywood at the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. History was made as actresses Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson, and Niecy Nash-Betts took home Emmy awards in their respective categories.
Quinta Brunson made history when she became the first Black woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy in 42 years. “I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn’t think…,” she began her acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy, and I say it every time and I just love comedy so much that I am so happy to be able to get this,” she continued. “I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn’t think… Oh god. I love my mom, my dad. My sisters, my brothers. My entire family so much. I love my husband. I’m so happy. I love my cast. Oh, I love Abbott Elementary. Thank you so much.”
Before the Abbott Elementary star and creator, the last Black woman to win in the category was Isabel Sanford in 1981 for her role in The Jeffersons. Inspired by her mother who was a school teacher, Brunson, 34, plays Philadelphia school teacher Janine Teagues in the ABC series.
Ayo Edebiri picked up her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in FX’s Bear.
“This is a show about found family and real family, and my parents are here tonight,” Edebiri said in her speech. “I’m making them sit kind of far away from me because I’m a bad kid. But I love you so much. Thank you so much for loving me and letting me feel beautiful and Black and proud of all of that. I just love you so much.”
But it was Niecy Nash-Butts who had us all grabbing a box of tissues. She took home the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role in the Netflix series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. During her acceptance speech, she took the moment to not only honor herself but other Black and Brown women whose voices and stories have gone unheard.
“I want to thank me, for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do,” she continued. “I want to say to myself in front of all you beautiful people, ‘Go, girl, with your bad self. You did that,” she said. “Finally, I accept this award on behalf of every Black and Brown woman who have gone unheard, yet overpoliced, like Glenda Cleveland, like Sandra Bland, like Breonna Taylor!”
Edebiri’s, Brunson’s, and Niecy Nash-Betts’s wins were just three of a few Black and brown wins Monday night. Other wins include Ali Wong, who became the first Asian woman to win a Leading Role award. Trevor Noah became the first person of color to win an Emmy for Best Variety Talk Series for his show The Daily Show
