Everyone knows that unless you are male, straight, white and cis, you are going to have to work twice as hard to get half the recognition others with privilege are handed on a platter. But the just concluded 2017 Emmy took a step towards correcting this social imbalance. The awards which had a record number of actors, directors, writers and filmmakers of colour nominated for awards, saw four actors of colour win awards for their projects. Donald Glover won two; one for his acting role in Atlanta, a unvarnished portrayal of Black American life, and another for directing the show. A second writing Emmy went to an unexpected writer, Lena Waithe of the comedy/drama series “Master Of None”.

As an American actress, producer, and screenwriter, Lena Waithe has done extensive work in the industry but she is honoured for her role as Denise on Master of None and the writing she did alongside the show’s creator Aziz Ansari on the show’s “Thanksgiving” episode. What makes it even more groundbreaking is that Lena Waithe‘s episode draws inspiration from her personal coming out story and has been lauded as one of the best portrayals of coming out that television has ever seen and has won several other awards.

Waithe doesn’t take for granted what her win means, and her acceptance speech will warm your heart.

We hope she is not the last Lesbian African American to be nominated for this award or win it, in the near future.

Congratulations Lena!

Editor