September 20, 2105 goes down in herstory as the day Viola Davis became the first black person who won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. Taraji P. Henson was also a nominee and could of easily been sour that she missed out on the opportunity, however, she was loving and embracing to all the black women who won Emmys. I mention this to show how there was so much black girl magic in the atmosphere that night, even before Viola received her award. Uzo and Regina King also got awards and other black actresses were seen celebrating with them. We black women love each other, forget what you heard!
Now to be completely honest I do not watch "How To Get Away With Murder", but I have seen Viola speaking on behalf of her character on the show. I forget which daytime show with a bunch of happy ladies sitting at a table talking about different things it was, but while watching one of these shows months ago, I was able to connect to and appreciate Viola Davis.
I remember her questioning where else has a role like hers appeared in television, and the correct answer is no where. She prided herself on being the first woman to play a role like hers: an older, natural haired, dark skinned black woman who was open with her sexuality and got to be sexy. This truly is a character almost nonexistent in Hollywood, but these perspectives of black women need to be presented more.
On HTGAWM, there was a pivotal scene where Viola's character took off her wig, exposing her natural hair, which is almost humorous because on the night she received her award she was rocking her fro in full effect, and girl was she stunning. What made that moment even more beautiful was her speech and celebration of black leading ladies who "paved the way" to this moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSpQfvd_zkE
It's perfect that she quoted Harriet Tubman (which shows she prepped and was working in faith to attain that Emmy). Harriet Tubman being of "not classical beauty" but epitomized everything great about black women reflects the same struggle and issue Viola and many of us black women experience today. She was bold to say such a thing and of course got some negative feedback from it. Either way, I feel it's safe to say every black girl was celebrating with her the way the hood celebrates when someone made it out or something beautiful like that. You go, Viola, and thanks for being black and beautiful is so many ways.
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