Sunday night’s 2015 Emmy Awards were definitely one to remember, as Regina King took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Aliyah Shadeed in American Crime, and Orange is the New Black star Uzo Aduba won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama.
But the award and acceptance speech that made the night a historical one for all, was Viola Davis’ win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series; she is the first African American woman to win in that category.
[RELATED: Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis Make History With Emmy Award Nominations]
Both she and Taraji P. Henson made history this year as the first two black actresses to be simultaneously nominated for lead actress in a drama series, and after hearing her win, Davis embraced Henson with a warm ‘sister hug’ before taking the stage to give a memorable speech that was just as historic as the award itself.
“‘In my mind, I see a line,” Davis said. “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.”
As the crowd clapped to Davis’ moving words, she continued her speech by thanking key players in Hollywood and her fellow black female actresses for helping women of color get over that line.
“And let me tell you something. The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” the How to Get Away with Murder star added. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the awesome people…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, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharis, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you, for the television academy.”
To witness Davis’ shining moment and to hear her speech in full, watch the video below.