Diversity Rules; Viola Davis makes history

On Sunday night, Viola Davis made history as the first Black-American woman to win an Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She won her award for her stellar performance as Annalise Keating in ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder. This win would be monumental for any actress, but considering it is 2015 and she is the first Black woman to do it, the stakes were definitely raised considerably.

Upon receiving her award Viola gave an honest, heartfelt, poignant and gracious speech honoring women of color and those who have worked to redefine the way women of color are perceived and portrayed in film and television.

“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else, is opportunity”.
Davis was showered with emotional support from fellow nominee, Taraji P. Henson and Kerry Washington, both who beamed with pride and joy for this historical moment for, not only Viola Davis, but for what it signified to women of color as a whole in the American television and film industry.
With films such as Straight Outta Compton and Dear White People and television shows like How To Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Fresh Off the Boat, Black-ish, Empire, Grey’s Anatomy, doing so well with ratings proves that diversity is profitable!

“You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers… who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.”

Congratulations Viola Davis!