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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