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Viola Davis made history on Sunday night as the first Black woman ever to win the Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series award for her role on How To Get Away With Murder, and her accompanying acceptance speech was just as amazing as the accomplishment itself.
Taking to the stage in a beautifully tailored mermaid-style gown, Viola first paid tribute to iconic abolitionist Harriet Tubman before later praising her fellow actresses of color including Sanaa Lathan, Halle Berry, Gabrielle Union, Regina King, Meagan Good and Taraji Henson (who was also up for the Best Lead Actress award), to name a few.
Take a look at Viola’s moving and inspiring acceptance speech in full below.
Not only is this another win on the books for Viola, but it’s also yet another monumental achievement for female African-American producer & director extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes, who is the mastermind behind the HTGAWM series.
In addition to Viola’s historic win, Orange Is The New Black star Uzo Aduba also took home a Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for the second year in a row, while Regina King won her first-ever Emmy for her role in American Crime.
RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
1. Taraji P. Henson in a black custom Alexander Wang gown with a peekaboo cutout
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2. Bernice Gordon, Taraji P. Henson, Patsy Ballard, and Marcel Henson
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3. Tracee Ellis Ross in a Zac Posen gown
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4. Kerry Washington in a mesh Marc Jacobs dress
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5. Lady Gaga is wearing a one-shoulder black Brandon Maxwell gown
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6. Julianne Hough
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7. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon
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8. Mindy Kaling
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9. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello
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10. Emma Roberts
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11. Laverne Cox
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12. David Oyelowo and Jessica Oyelowo
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13. Claire Danes
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14. Danielle Brooks
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15. Padma Lakshmi
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16. Gina Rodriguez
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17. June Ambrose
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18. Uzo Aduba
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19. Aubrey Anderson-Emmons
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20. Niecy Nash and Jay Tucker
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21. Ariel Winter
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22. Andy Samberg and Joanna Newsom
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23. Heidi Klum
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24. Laura Prepon
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25. Sarah Hyland
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26. Dascha Polanco
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27. Aubrey Plaza
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28. Porsha Williams
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29. Giuliana Rancic
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30. Trevor Noah
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31. Christina Hendricks
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32. Nathan Anderson and actor Anthony Anderson
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33. Amy Poehler
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Continue reading RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
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Viola Davis’ Inspiring Acceptance Speech As First Black Woman To Win Lead Actress In A Drama Series Emmy [VIDEO] was originally published on theurbandaily.com
