2018 Emmy Awards Nominations: The Year of Black Excellence

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I told you, this is our time.

I started this blog for a variety of reasons, but my main one was for moments like this. Quietly watching from the sidelines, I knew that people of color were making their way back into the artistic realm, capturing the adoration of many. On top of that, we were slowly being recognized more for it.
And now, with a whopping 28 nominations for African American actors, I think I can definitively say: “I told ya so!”

The Emmys will not get caught with the “so-white” stigma that plagued the Oscars. Nope, not for Television’s biggest night.

Now, let’s jump into these nominations and acknowledge the sheer magnitude of the list:

  • Sterling K. Brown (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – This is Us), (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy – Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
  • Jeffrey Wright (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Westworld)
  • Thandie Newton (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Westworld)
  • Issa Rae (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Insecure)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Blackish)
  • Donald Glover (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Atlanta), (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Saturday Night Live)
  • Anthony Anderson (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Blackish)
  • Regina King (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie – Seven Seconds)
  • John Legend (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie – Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert)
  • Letitia Wright (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Black Mirror: Black Museum)
  • Adina Porter (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – American Horror Story: Cult)
  • Brandon Victor Dixon (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie – Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert)
  • Leslie Jones (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Saturday Night Live)
  • Zazie Beetz (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Atlanta)
  • Kenan Thompson (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Saturday Night Live)
  • Brian Tyree Henry (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Atlanta)
  • Tituss Burgess (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)
  • Cicely Tyson (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – How to Get Away with Murder)
  • Viola Davis (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Scandal)
  • Samira Wiley (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – The Handmaid’s Tale)
  • Kelly Jenrette (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – The Handmaid’s Tale)
  • Ron Cephas Jones (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – This is Us)
  • Maya Rudolph (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – The Good Place)
  • Wanda Sykes (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Blackish)
  • Tiffany Haddish (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Saturday Night Live)
  • Katt Williams (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Atlanta)



Impressive doesn’t begin to express how major this is for us, y’all! Since 2016, the Emmys have seen a steady increase in nominees of color; nearly 25% of acting nominees were non-white for the 2016 Emmy Awards. That’s roughly about 18 nominees. Last year, there were 19. Our magic continues to grow.

At least one Black nominee has won in every acting category except Supporting Actor in a Drama Series since 1960, when Harry Belafonte became the first Black actor to win an Emmy. And although there isn’t a Black actor in that category this year, I can only imagine that there will be next year. The resurgence of the Black Artist roars.

My favorites, you may wonder? “I’m rooting for everybody BLACK,” as the talented Issa Rae answered before last year’s ceremony. But honestly, some of my favorite shows that have kept me captivated over the past couple seasons were: Insecure, Atlanta, This is Us, The Handmaid’s Tale, How to Get Away with Murder, and Game of Thrones (duh!). Anyone, of color or melanin-less, who wins from those shows is golden with me.

If I had to see only ONE win happen, it would be Katt Williams for his portrayal of Alligator Man in Atlanta. I find it interesting that it received a nomination, but with William’s moving performance, I think he’s deserving.



If you still think that it’s not our time to shine, I implore you to look at all this melanin magic.

The 70th annual Primetime Emmys telecast, hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che, will air on NBC Sept. 17.

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