VIOLA!

[kpete]

Last edited Mon Sep 21, 2015, 09:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Viola Davis, after becoming the first African-American to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama, gave an acceptance speech that placed her award within the larger context of diversity in Hollywood.

‘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, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you to the Television Academy. Thank you.

VIDEO & MORE:
http://www.nytimes.com/live/emmys-2015/viola-daviss-emotional-emmys-acceptance-speech/

[Gothmog]

1. Great speech

[Bluenorthwest]

2. She is so amazing in that role. Best of the year, yes but also one of the all time great television

performances.

[RockaFowler]

3. Agree

That show and her performance are incredible
Can't wait until Thursday for Season 2!

[mnhtnbb]

4. Viola Davis is all class.

Very happy to see her win!

[phylny]

5. Congrats to her, class all the way.

More than I can say for the showrunner. I'll never watch a Shonda Rhimes show again in my life.

[kwassa]

6. here is the video, which is terrific.

[Blasphemer]

7. I knew from the very first episode of HTGAWM that she'd win this

And I am very proud of, and for, her! The show can be hit and miss - it's definitely not truly great TV, but her performance is one of the best ever. She truly gives every bit of herself, and then some, to every second as Annalise.

[OnlinePoker]

8. Great speech, but I don't think the right actress won.

Tatiana Maslany has been phenomenal in Orphan Black, playing (I think) a dozen different characters to date including a transgender male. She is on screen 90% of her show and deserved the nod after 3 stellar years in the role(s). It could be most people in the States haven't seen the show since it's on BBC America and she is a relatively unknown Canadian actress.