The 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards aired last night and quite a few stars of color took home trophies.
While films like La La Land and Deadpool and shows like This is Us, Veep and Game of Thrones were shown quite a bit of love at the Golden Globes, this year's group of nominees also had quite a bit of color as well. Awards in categories including "Best Actress-Musical or Comedy," "Best Motion Picture-Drama," and "Best Television Limited Series" all went to actors and actresses of color this year. The pool of nominees also proved to be a significant step in the right direction for award show inclusivity.
According to the Golden Globes' website, Donald Glover, also known as the rapper Childish Gambino, received the award for "Best Actor in a Series-Musical or Comedy" for playing Earnest Marks on Atlanta, which he also produces. Tracee Ellis Ross also won in the Musical/Comedy category for her role as Rainbow "Bow" Johnson on Black-ish. Ellis Ross' win was the first time since the 1983 Golden Globes that a black woman won the award and was the first nomination of a black woman since 1984 for the category.
Ross was thrilled about her win and happy to "continue expanding the way we are seen and known, and to show the magic and the beauty and the sameness of a story and stories that are outside of where the industry usually looks."
The victors pool within the movie/miniseries category also had some color. Viola Davis, who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, won "Best Supporting Actress" for her role in the acclaimed movie Fences. Indie film Moonlight received the award for "Best Motion Picture-Drama." The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story also won for "Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television."
Other nominees for Golden Globes included Kerry Washington, Dev Patel, Courtney B. Vance, Sterling K. Brown, Anthony Anderson and Thandie Newton. Films including Loving, Hidden Figures and Confirmation also received nods this awards season.
However, it is no secret that the film industry still has a long way to go. A study by the University of Southern California showed that only 28.7 percent of minority characters appear in speaking roles in films and television while only 12 percent of shows feature a minority balanced cast.