For Black Folks, the 2015 Emmy Nominations are a Premature Celebration
Posted on July 22, 2015
We live in a world where the Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series category includes Taraji P. Henson (Cookie Lyon onEmpire) and Viola Davis (Annalise Keating on How To Get Away With Murder). Yes, two BLACK actresses nominated at the same time in the Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series category.
This is history. It is also only a minor victory.
In many ways, we are still fighting for equality in the entertainment industry. Equal representation, equal treatment, and equal acclaim. And this year’s record 64% gain in representation of Black actors, 18 versus last year’s 11, may make people feel like the battle is won (nominees: Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, David Oyelowo, Queen Latifah, Andre Braugher, Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, Uzo Aduba, Reg. E. Cathey, Cicely Tyson, Khandi Alexander, Keegan-Michael Kay, Tituss Burgess, Niecy Nash, Michael Kenneth Williams, Regina King, Angela Bassett, and Mo’Nique). But, did Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States mean that racism was over? Did it mean that all people’s has a truly representative body of elected officials? Of course not.