Source: Lester Cohen / Getty
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
Source:Getty
1 of 33
2. Bernice Gordon, Taraji P. Henson, Patsy Ballard, and Marcel Henson
Source:Getty
2 of 33
3. Tracee Ellis Ross in a Zac Posen gown
Source:Getty
3 of 33
4. Kerry Washington in a mesh Marc Jacobs dress
Source:Getty
4 of 33
5. Lady Gaga is wearing a one-shoulder black Brandon Maxwell gown
Source:Getty
5 of 33
6. Julianne Hough
Source:Getty
6 of 33
7. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon
Source:Getty
7 of 33
8. Mindy Kaling
Source:Getty
8 of 33
9. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello
Source:Getty
9 of 33
10. Emma Roberts
Source:Getty
10 of 33
11. Laverne Cox
Source:Getty
11 of 33
12. David Oyelowo and Jessica Oyelowo
Source:Getty
12 of 33
13. Claire Danes
Source:Getty
13 of 33
14. Danielle Brooks
Source:Getty
14 of 33
15. Padma Lakshmi
Source:Getty
15 of 33
16. Gina Rodriguez
Source:Getty
16 of 33
17. June Ambrose
Source:Getty
17 of 33
18. Uzo Aduba
Source:Getty
18 of 33
19. Aubrey Anderson-Emmons
Source:Getty
19 of 33
20. Niecy Nash and Jay Tucker
Source:Getty
20 of 33
21. Ariel Winter
Source:Getty
21 of 33
22. Andy Samberg and Joanna Newsom
Source:Getty
22 of 33
23. Heidi Klum
Source:Getty
23 of 33
24. Laura Prepon
Source:Getty
24 of 33
25. Sarah Hyland
Source:Getty
25 of 33
26. Dascha Polanco
Source:Getty
26 of 33
27. Aubrey Plaza
Source:Getty
27 of 33
28. Porsha Williams
Source:Getty
28 of 33
29. Giuliana Rancic
Source:Getty
29 of 33
30. Trevor Noah
Source:Getty
30 of 33
31. Christina Hendricks
Source:Getty
31 of 33
32. Nathan Anderson and actor Anthony Anderson
Source:Getty
32 of 33
33. Amy Poehler
Source:Getty
33 of 33
Continue reading RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
RED CARPET RECAP: 2015 Emmy Awards
READ MORE ON THE URBAN DAILY
The Best Of #BlackGirlMagic From The 67th Annual Emmy Awards Red Carpet [Photos]
The Biggest Snubs From This Year’s Emmy Nominations
Taraji P. Henson Shuts Out Kerry Washington In The 2015 Emmy Nominations
