The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday night with our favourite black celebrities and stakeholders in Hollywood gracing the occasion.
From the red carpet to the main event, there were several memorable highlights that indeed prove black excellence is definitely here to stay.
Without further ado, check out some of the memorable moments of the night.
Tiffany Haddish’s Eritrean inspired dress
The Girls Trip star, who won an Emmy at last week’s Creative Arts ceremony for guest-hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live caught people’s attention with her colourful dress.
Tiffany Haddish, who won an Emmy for guest-hosting #SNL , talks backstage about her dress, an homage to her dad and their Eritrean heritage. It’s custom design in colors of Eritrean flag. #EMMYS pic.twitter.com/O4k5uuakF9
— NancyDillonNYDN (@NancyDillonNYDN) September 18, 2018
According to Haddish, the dress, which was inspired by the Eritrean flag paid homage to her dad as well as her Eritrean heritage.
Jenifer Lewis in Nike
The veteran actress and Black-ish star showed up at the event wearing Nike in support of Colin Kaepernick.
“I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality,” she told Variety in an interview on the red carpet.
Jenifer Lewis’ message to Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7): “Thank you Colin. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for taking a knee. Thank you” #Emmys https://t.co/DApUrVDBlu pic.twitter.com/a5OoMxAKMh
— Variety (@Variety) September 17, 2018
Reparation Emmys
Another very interesting moment of the night was when co-host Michael Che paid homage to unrecognized black comedians who never won the prestigious award for roles they played in very popular comedy series in a “Reparation Emmys” skit.
The awardees included John Witherspoon (The Mayans Bros.), Tichina Arnold (Martin), Jimmy Walker (Good Times), Jaleel White (Family Matters), Kadeem Hardison (A Different World) and Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons).
Take a look at the funny skit below.
Winners and Losers
Zimbabwean-British actress Thandie Newton, Regina King and RuPaul were the notable black nominees who emerged victorious in their respective categories. King took home the award for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie for her role in Netflix’s Seven Seconds.
Regina King on how her surprise at her win helped her realize that “sometimes she’s thinking in a box” https://t.co/Pu5ie1SbQL pic.twitter.com/2dG73T8Wxg
— Variety (@Variety) September 18, 2018
Newton bagged the Outstanding Supporting Actress award for her role in Westworld.
Congrats, Thandie Newton!! ??? #Emmys pic.twitter.com/a2R3b6UbD6
— GIPHY (@GIPHY) September 18, 2018
RuPaul’s Drag Race took home the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.
RuPaul on the importance of unity during this divisive time in America: “We celebrate the people who dance outside the box, not just drag queens.” #Emmys #DragRace https://t.co/ITUhPVU1Mt pic.twitter.com/1JOTouNzlT
— Variety (@Variety) September 18, 2018
Disappointingly though, Atlanta by Donald Glover and Black-ish lost out in all the categories they were nominated.
