After honoring television for over 60 years, the Television Academy finally awarded an African American actress for her work in a lead role in a drama series. Viola Davis took home the award for ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder.
Davis was up against a diverse field, which included Taraji P. Henson of Fox’s Empire, Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany, Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss, Homeland’s Claire Danes and Robin Wright of House of Cards. It was Davis’ first ever Emmy nomination and followed her Screen Actors Guild win for HTGAWM and a Golden Globe nomination.
After accepting the award from Adrien Brody, Davis began her emotional speech by quoting Harriet Tubman.
“In my mind, I see a line,” Davis began. “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.”
The camera caught Henson standing and applauding as Davis came on stage. Fellow ABC star Kerry Washington of Scandal was in tears.
“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” Davis said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, all the awesome people that are [Disney-ABC TV president] Ben Sherwood, [ABC Entertainment Group President] Paul Lee, [HTGAWM producer] 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.”
Davis’ win was just one of four for the major broadcast networks last night. Regina King, who stars on American Crime, won ABC’s other Emmy.