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September 21, 2015

Watch: Viola Davis Quotes Harriet Tubman in Historic Emmys Speech 
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And Viola Davis has made history, becoming the first African American to
win an Emmy Award for best lead actress on a drama series.

Viola Davis: "'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
Goods, to Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank
you for the Television Academy. Thank you."

That's Viola Davis, making history, accepting the Emmy Award for best
lead actress on a drama series for her role as a defense attorney in the
series "How to Get Away with Murder."

 

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