VIOLA DAVIS: FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN DRAMA

VIOLA DAVIS* ACCEPTANCE SPEECH 

"In my mind, I see a line. 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." 

That was Harriet Tubman* in the 1800s.

And let me tell you something:

The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.

You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

So, here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, 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 and

Kerry Washingtons*,

the Halle Berrys,

the Nicole Beharies,

the Meagan Goodes,

to Gabrielle Union*.

Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you for the Television Academy. Thank you. 

 *= BLACK FEMINISTS ROCK