On Jan. 15, 2023, Black women made history as only Black women do during the 75th Emmy Awards. The ceremony celebrated a few Black female Emmy winners: Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson, and Niecy Nash-Betts. The three accomplished actresses secured landmark wins, completely stealing the show. Today, they’re all anyone can talk about.
For Brunson, she became the second Black woman to win Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. This win follows Isabel Sanford winning the same category for “The Jeffersons” 42 years ago.
Edebiri became the third Black woman to take home an award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in “The Bear.” Previous winners in the category include Jackeé Harry in 1987 and Sheryl Lee Ralph in 2022.
The Black girl magic didn’t stop there. Niecy Nash-Betts accepted her Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role in “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Nash-Betts sauntered onstage in custom Greta Constantine and delivered an acceptance speech that still has social media buzzing.
With Black women continuing to break barriers in the industry, it’s crucial to take note of a disheartening fact — it’s embarrassing how few and far between these wins are for Black women. That said, we will continue to root for all women of color.
2024 is the year of Ayo Edebiri.
Ayo Edebiri has taken this awards season by storm! She is becoming a force in the industry. Now that she’s won her first Emmy Award, the first of many we’re sure of, she’s unstoppable. Edebiri was recognized for her work in “The Bear,” dedicating her win to her parents.
“This is a show about family and found family and real family, and my parents are here tonight, and I’m making them sit far away from me because I’m a bad kid, but thank you,” she said in her speech via Deadline. “Thank you so much for loving me and letting me feel beautiful, Black, and proud of all of that.”
Edebiri continued: “I love you so much. Probably not a dream to immigrate to this country and have your daughter go, ‘I wanna do improv,’ but you are real ones.'”
Quinta Brunson tearfully accepted her Emmy.
Becoming the first Black woman to win Best Comedic Actress in over 40 years is no easy feat. Brunson has steadily climbed the ladder for years, and due to the success of her show, “Abbott Elementary,” her time has come.
Dressed in custom Christian Dior, Brunson tearfully accepted her award. She garnered enough courage to get through her speech, thanking her on and off-screen family.
“I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy,” she said in her speech via CNN. “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. I love ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Thank you so much.'”
Niecy Nash-Betts bet on herself and won.
With her snatched body and vibrant personality, Nash-Betts accepted her Emmy. In her true form, the actress delivered one of the night’s most viral speeches. She honored Black and brown women whose voices were silenced. She also gave thanks to an important person — herself.
“I want to thank me for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do,” she said in her speech via Courier Journal. “I want to say to myself in front of all you beautiful people, ‘Go, girl, with your bad self. You did that.'”
Nash-Betts continued: “Finally, I accept this award on behalf of every Black and brown woman who has gone unheard, yet over-policed, like Glenda Cleveland, like Sandra Bland, like Breonna Taylor. My job is to speak truth to power, and I’m [going to] do it to the day I die.”
It’s heartwarming to see representation showcased at the Emmys and for Black female Emmy winners to bask in their glory. Let’s hope there isn’t another 20, 30, or 40 years before Black talent gets their flowers.
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