Lena Waithe just made Emmy Awards history by becoming the first Black woman to win for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Master of None. (She was also the first Black woman ever nominated in this category.) This was a monumental moment for television history, and it wasn’t lost on the celebrities in the audience: Nearly everyone stood up and clapped for Waithe as she walked up to accept her prize.
Waithe’s acceptance speech was emotional; she took time to thank the slew of people in front of and behind the camera on Master of None. However, Waithe really won over the crowd toward the end of her speech when she gave an impassioned message to the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I see each and everyone one of you,” she said. “The things that make us different: those are our superpowers. Everyday when you walked out the door, put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world—because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it.”
Watch that part of her speech in the video, below:
Waithe’s contribution to Master of None is perhaps best encapsulated in the Thanksgiving episode from the most recent season, where her character’s mom finally says that she’s happy for her. (Waithe plays Denise, a queer woman, on Master of None.)
“It’s such a pivotal moment for women, particularly women of color, who may be struggling with what it’s like to have a gay child,” Waithe said. The grabbing of the hand, the looking in the eyes and saying, ‘I’m happy with the way you turned out,’ instead of this long speech of ‘It’s OK that you’re gay,’ is a moment of acknowledgment. For a lot of queer people, that’s all we could ever want.”
For more of our 2017 Emmy Awards coverage, click here.
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