Representation and diversity at Hollywood award shows is lacking, but at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards, there were several historic wins. While we still have a long way to go, people of color and women made history in more ways than one.
TVLine reports that Atlanta creator and star Donald Glover became the first black person in the ceremony’s 69 years to win an Emmy for directing a comedy. Additionally, Lena Waithe became the first black woman to win for comedy writing, and The Night Of’s Riz Ahmed became the first Asian man to win an Emmy for acting.
And while Reed Morano and Sterling K. Brown weren’t the first woman or black man to win their categories, it has been a while. Morano, who won for directing an episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, was the first woman in 22 years to win the directing in a drama series category. Brown was the first black man in 19 years to take the lead actor in a drama series statue home.
Shows about women won big, too. All three series awards went to shows about women. The Handmaid’s Tale won best drama series, Veep won best comedy series, and Big Little Lies won best limited series.
I love hearing about these inspiring wins, and I hope to see even more representation in the industry and at award shows in the future.