Rumor has it that Kerry Washington is the odds-on favorite to win an Emmy for Scandal. I do have to say though – how sad is it that the freaking Oscars are more progressive than the Emmys? Halle Berry won her Best Actress statuette and made history almost a decade ago, but it’s taken so much longer for the television academy to possibly recognize a African American actress in the same category?
Kerry’s also the first African-American nominee for Best Actress in a Drama since Cicely Tyson in 1995 for Sweet Justice. It’s been almost twenty years since that happened, which brings us to the question: are we as racially diverse as everyone keeps saying we are? Yes, television and movies are improving, there’s no doubt about that. There are more Asians, there are more African-Americans, there are more Latinos, and there are more East Indians. But the rate at which its improving still seems too slow to reflect reality.
In today’s day and age, if you look outside in Los Angeles, the majority of the people you glimpse will be POCs. Shouldn’t television reflect reality? We’ll have to say if the Emmys recognize that by finally allowing Kerry to win, and she certainly deserves to. Her performance on Scandal is fantastic.
House of Cards could also make history at the Emmys tonight, considering it will be the first time an ‘online’ program scoops the big awards for Best Drama. I wouldn’t necessarily count Netflix as ‘online’, but hey, it’s the Emmys distinction that matters, not mine.
Do you guys think Kerry Washington will win and make history? Do you think House of Cards will win? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.