Hollywood’s journey toward diversity has been long and infrequently slow. But the 2024 Emmy Awards were one other step forward in recognizing the contributions of creators, actors and directors of color. Of the 96 possible acting nominations this 12 months, 30 nominees they were people of color, including 17 black people nominatedRecognition of talent transcended racial lines, with nominations also coming from the LGBTQ and Indigenous communities.

This 12 months’s level of diversity continues to be a positive trend for Black creators, actors and directors, signaling long-awaited recognition from the industry, making history times.

An awesome (and unexpected) victory

The 2024 Emmy Awards Gala brought some surprises, including a special moment when Lamorne Morris won his first Emmy for his role in . In a lightweight and emotional acceptance speech, Morris thanked God, his mother and jokingly acknowledged his daughter’s approval while gushing about fellow nominee Robert Downey Jr. The win not only highlighted Morris’ talent, but in addition contributed to the growing representation of black actors who’re recognized for his or her craft.

Black Actors and Actresses Nominations and Past Trends

Here are a few of the 17 black nominees who were recognized for his or her work on screen:

• Idris Elba, Lead Actor in a Drama Series for “Hijack”

• Donald Glover, Lead Actor in a Drama Series for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

• Quinta Brunson, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, for “Abbott Elementary”

• Ayo Edebiri, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, for her role in the film “The Bear”

Supporting actors and actresses from series like “Abbot Elementary,” “Fargo” and “The Bear” also ranked high amongst the nominees, with the likes of legendary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams and Lionel Boyce amongst them.

For a few of the nominees, this wasn’t their first time on the Emmy red carpet. This 12 months’s nomination was Idris Elba’s sixth, while Donald Glover previously took home acting and directing awards for his work on “Atlanta” in 2017. He was the first black director to win Emmy for Directing for a Comedy Series.

While the 2024 Emmys signal progress, the industry still has an extended technique to go. Historically, black performers have been severely underrepresented at the Emmys. Between 1966 and 2014, fewer than 5% of nominations for lead actor in a comedy or drama went to black actors. The deceased Sammy Davis Jr. was one among the first black performers to be honored for “Best Special Performance” in 1956, but it surely could be years before similar honors became more common.

In 1963, Harry Belafonte made history as the first black person to win an Emmy for a special appearance, marking an early win for black representation in an era when such recognition was rare. But it wasn’t until the Eighties that black actors began to make more consistent strides. Isabella Sanfordfor instance, she became the first black woman to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981 for her role as Louise Jefferson in .

In 1990, James Earl Jones he won for his performance Jackie Harry made history as the first and only black woman to win the award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category.

Recently, historic nominations have included: Viola Daviswho in 2015 became the first black woman to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in . Her iconic acceptance speech underscored the ongoing battle for opportunity in Hollywood: “The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity.” The moment became a cultural touchstone, inspiring future generations of performers. Sterling K. Brown in 2016 and 2017 for his roles in the movies and , he won two Emmy Awards in a row.

Black Excellence Behind the Camera

The 2024 Emmy Awards also saw an increase in recognition for Black talent behind the camera. Salli Richardson-Whitfield was nominated as director of a drama series for guiding “Beat LA” in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, making her the first Black woman nominated in the category — a groundbreaking achievement for gender and racial diversity at the awards show.

In addition to his nominations for his work on camera, Donald Glover has been nominated as a author for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” This isn’t Glover’s first foray behind the scenes at the Emmys, but his continued presence on the nominee list bodes well for black creators in Hollywood.

Diversity also appears on the nomination lists for lesser-known awards, equivalent to the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Program (Prerecorded), which incorporates comedian Trevor Noah’s “Where Was I” and Dave Chappelle’s “The Dreamer.”

What the 2024 Emmys Mean for Black Representation in Hollywood

The increased attendance at the Emmys and other elite Hollywood awards shows in recent times reflects calls from artists and activists to acknowledge their labor. “Issa Rae”I support all blacks“The comments from 2017 and 2022 likely still ring true, and she or he’s probably not the just one rooting for more representation amongst Emmy winners.

Just like the ancestors, equivalent to Harry Belafonte—the first Black person to win an Emmy—broke molds and pioneered diversity on the small screen. The Black actors, actresses, creators and directors who earned a spot at the 2024 Emmys, whether or not they won of their category or not, are breaking barriers and helping to construct a more inclusive industry that may welcome more Black talent in the future.

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First she ripped out our edges. Now she’s going to bring them back. Beyoncé’s hair care company, Cécred, has unveiled the new addition to the road with a pop-up installation in SoHo… and it’s thick.

On Saturday, International news has been transformed right into a Chrome launchpad for the new product: Restoring hair and drop edgesFormulated to extend hair density by 1.5x, the elixir comes packaged in a chic silver dropper bottle – a packaging that stands out from other products within the line.

The drops, aptly encapsulated within the slogan “Get Thick,” goal breakage and thinning hair on the ends and lengths. The product has a serum formula, meaning it’s lightweight and absorbs directly into the hair and scalp. There isn’t any must rinse and is designed for each day use.

For best results, the team encourages consumers to make use of the serum twice each day for at the very least 16 weeks. The science behind the formula relies on patented Bioactive Keratin Ferment technology and delivers five peptides that support hair growth. “1 drop, 5 powerful peptides,” the corporate declares.

Members Cecred The team, including Beyoncé’s hair stylist Neal Farinahand Brand Education Director Dr. Kari Williamswere present to support the product launch and engage participants. The pop-up attracted over 500 people We cannot wait to check the new drops and learn more about them.

Chrome windows were lined with shiny new bottles, and a metal kiosk delivered a special edition of the Get Thick newsletter, offering detailed product information. Meanwhile, a sweet station dishing out champagne-flavored drinks cotton candy with edible glitter accomplished the entire.

The first 500 guests received a full-size bottle of Restoring Hair and Edge Drops, while subsequent guests received product samples. All were also capable of purchase the larger Cécred line at a reduced price. The event staff, wearing all-white Cécred jumpsuits, moved the road of Bey stans—who, after all, sang along to Beyoncé’s discography while they waited—along with the friendly, communal energy that the brand itself strives to cultivate.

Bobby, a fan dressed head to toe in Renaissance gear, arrived at 3:30 a.m. to be sure that he was first in line. Aden, 18, boarded a bus from Philadelphia for his first solo trip, while Ciera and her friends followed, hats in tow, three hours before the event began. Several got here prepared to attend in line with folding chairs and Renaissance tour fans.

Fans were asked in the event that they would still use the products without the queen’s name, and all responded with a convincing yes. “It’s in the name,” Aden told ESSENCE. The products work and encourage consumers to pour love and respect into their crowns.

Consumers of various hair types, ages, and ethnicities shared their personal experiences with the brand, citing the moisturizing balm and deep conditioner as repeat favorites. “My favorite product is the conditioner because I really like how silky it makes my hair. My hair gets really tangled, but after 2-3 washes it’s so much easier to detangle,” Ciera shared.

Two clients, one with less dense, straight hair and the opposite with thick, wavy hair, described how Cécred restored moisture and strength to their hair after multiple bleaching and coloring cycles. Estela detailed how the products worked on her own dry, loose curls and her daughter’s tight curls. “It’s hard to find curl products that are good and work. These work.”

Protection, health and hydration were crucial goals of the participants by way of hair care. That is why the new regenerating serum, already available on the market on cecred.com, is certain to arouse interest.

Oprah Winfrey became a trending topic on social media across multiple platforms on September 16. The billionaire’s upcoming live broadcast with Vice President Kamala Harris drew negative reactions from conservatives.

The Unite for America event will feature Winfrey, Harris and representatives from greater than 100 grassroots Democratic organizations. Winfrey posted a video of the announcement on the TikTok account @oprahdaily.

“It’s going to be incredibly exciting to have all the different groups from all over the country come together,” Winfrey, 70, said on social media.

The OWN founder added: “Everyone is coming together for what I think will be one of the biggest election rallies in history.”

Winfrey officially endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a surprise speech on the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August. Every time the previous talk show host shows support for Harris, supporters of Republican candidate and MAGA leader Donald Trump go on the attack.

In light of Oprah’s popularity online, Trump supporters have begun to allude to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy scandal. South African boarding school faces allegations of physical and sexual abuse within the late 2000s.

“Where are all the missing children???” one of the self-identified MAGA members asked on X in response to the “Unite for America” livestream. Someone else she tweeted: “Oprah, what about the girls at your South African school, huh?”

Some Sponsored by Oprah posted: “No girls disappeared, but girls were being sexually harassed at this school. As we know, Oprah is a victim of harassment, so she hopped on a plane to South Africa and made sure the person who did this was arrested. Why do you want her to be so angry? Because she’s a billionaire?”

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was founded in Gauteng Province, South Africa in January 2007. Later that yr, multiple female students accused the dormitory manager of physical and sexual abuse.

Winfrey apologized to oldsters of Leadership Academy students after allegations were made about a faculty worker. She also visited the power to talk on to the community.

In October 2010, Tiny Makopo he was acquitted of all 14 charges related to the harassment allegations. In addition, Winfrey defamation case resolved with former Lerato Lerato director Nomvuyo Mzamane, who was fired amidst the abuse controversy.

Winfrey has followed the progress of some Leadership Academy graduates after they leave school. In June 2024, she celebrated the graduation of one of her “daughter-daughters” with an M.D. from Stanford University.

“I have attended 22 graduation ceremonies for all of my daughters who graduated from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa and went on to colleges across the United States.” The star of “The Color Purple” wrote in an Instagram caption from June 17.

Oprah Winfrey’s “Unite for America” Virtual Rally will probably be presented in partnership with the Win With Black Women volunteer network on September 19. The livestream will begin at 8:00 PM ET on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch.