Black Women Are the Highlight of Awards Season in 2024

Black girls are persistently underestimated, disregarded, and missed in the leisure trade, however I’ve been so impressed by Black stars’ pleasure and self-love this awards season. From Quinta Brunson to Niecy Nash, our favourite actresses have already celebrated their well-deserved flowers — and I’ll be watching the upcoming Grammys to see if that development continues.

If you’ve got missed all the vivid factors of this awards season, let me remind you of what’s occurred up to now. During the Golden Globes on Jan. 7, we noticed Ayo Edebiri take house her first main award as this 12 months’s greatest feminine actor in a tv collection for her work in “The Bear.” Her acceptance speech made its means round social media for her relatable supply — however primarily for her acknowledgment of her brokers’ and managers’ assistants. Despite this being a momentous event in her profession, she took the time to humbly thank and uplift these in “smaller positions” who make doing what she loves attainable.

The following week, entertainers reunited for the 2023 Emmys. It felt serendipitous that the present landed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on condition that a number of Black girls received in their respective classes whereas concurrently breaking long-standing information.

The brilliantly hilarious Quinta Brunson took house the award for excellent lead actress in a comedy collection for her function as Janine Teagues in “Abbott Elementary,” changing into solely the second Black lady to earn this achievement. Isabel Sanford received in 1981 for her iconic function in “The Jeffersons,” so Brunson broke the 43-year-long drought together with her win. That’s far too lengthy a spot. In the intervening years, so many Black girls have been snubbed for his or her work: Tracee Ellis Ross was nominated 5 occasions for the award for her work on “Black-ish,” for instance, whereas Issa Rae was nominated 3 times for “Insecure.”

Brunson really broke two information that evening — as a result of of Edebiri’s win for greatest supporting actress, the pair had been the first Black girls to carry each comedy titles concurrently in Emmys historical past. We can also’t speak about history-makers with out mentioning Keke “Keep a Bag” Palmer. She was the first Black lady to not solely be nominated however win an Emmy for excellent host of a recreation present. As the host of NBC’s “Password,” she was additionally the first lady in 15 years to win in the class. Palmer’s win spoke volumes to me; I by no means realized how a lot recreation exhibits had been a men-dominated house till I noticed her win. With one award, she broke a streak for all girls — whereas additionally breaking a glass ceiling for Black girls.

The true showstopper of the 2024 Emmys was Nash. After profitable her first Primetime Emmy for excellent supporting actress in a restricted collection for “Dahmer,” she gave an awe-inspiring speech — you’ve got most likely seen it throughout social media by now. What made the second so particular is that it wasn’t about an outdoor pressure recognizing her star energy; she did that herself. “I want to thank me — for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do. And I want to say to myself in front of all these beautiful people, ‘Go on girl with your bad self. You did that,'” she advised the crowd. It was lovely to see Nash unapologetically celebrating herself, particularly after the unbelievable work she has put into her virtually three-decade-long profession.

She continued to just accept the award on behalf of “every Black and Brown woman who has gone unheard yet overpoliced. Like Glenda Cleveland. Like Sandra Bland. Like Breonna Taylor.” Seeing Nash spotlight self-love so boldly whereas additionally acknowledging the trauma that Black girls in America take care of every day was extremely poignant and paved the means for what I hope we see extra of in the leisure trade.

Looking forward to February, we’re kicking off Black History Month with the Grammys on Feb. 4 and the BAFTAs on Feb. 18. The Oscars have already come underneath hearth for snubbing Black girls, together with leaving out Ava DuVernay in the director’s class for “Origin” and Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson for his or her roles in “The Color Purple.” But for now, I’m specializing in the monumental 12 months we have already had and the celebrations that might come — particularly throughout the Grammys. My focus can be on Coco Jones, Victoria Monét, SZA, and Halle Bailey; these 4 powerhouse musicians are certain to dominate this 12 months.

SZA is main the pack with the most nominations — 9 — for any artist this 12 months. Her critically acclaimed sophomore album, “SOS,” is about to snag a handful of the coveted awards. And after years in the trade as a songwriter, Monét is receiving the consideration she deserves for her debut studio album, “Jaguar II.” Alongside her seven nominations, her 2.5-year-old daughter, Hazel, has additionally made historical past as the youngest nominee ever. Meanwhile, watching Jones being nominated for 5 Grammys, together with greatest new artist, makes me extraordinarily proud. I grew up together with her and have watched her evolution in actual time. Bailey, equally, continues to shine. Following a monumental 12 months in which she starred as Ariel in the live-action “Little Mermaid,” her debut single, “Angel,” is up for greatest R&B tune, making this her first solo Grammy nomination.

It is validating to see such gifted Black girls be nominated for — and win — awards for his or her craft. The common Black lady is advised to be humble and gracious, by no means to boast or boldly rejoice our wins. But as Nash, Brunson, and hopefully extra stars to come back have confirmed, the tides are shifting. Slowly however absolutely, Black girls are receiving their flowers — not solely from leaders in the trade, but additionally from themselves.

As a younger Black lady, I’m taking notes. I’ll proudly rejoice my wins as I work towards my goals and proceed to foster my creativity. This awards season has simply began, however I’m excited to see what else is in retailer. As Rae would say, “I’m rooting for everybody Black.”