9 Black Women Score Emmy Nods for Their Work on Television

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The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences released the nominations for the 68th Primetime Emmys on Thursday. This year 21 non-white actors were nominated. Television is a much more diverse place than film, and after years of #OscarsSoWhite outcry the list of Emmy nominees proves it.

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Taraji P. Henson (Empire) and Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder) were nominated for best actress in a drama series. Both Henson and Davis were nominated the same roles in 2015 when Davis became the first Black actress to win the award.



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Tracee Ellis Ross received her first ever Emmy nomination for best actress in a comedy series for her role as Rainbow Johnson in Black-ish. The show, created by Kenya Barris, was also nominated for best comedy series.

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Niecy Nash received her second nomination in a row for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Didi Ortley in Getting On.

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Confirmation, the story of the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas,  received a nomination for best television movie. Kerry Washington is nominated for outstanding actress in a limited series or a television movie for her role as Anita Hill. She has been nominated twice before for her role as Olivia Pope on Scandal. 

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Broadway star Audra McDonald was also nominated for outstanding actress in a limited series or television movie for her role as Billie Holliday in the HBO film Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.  McDonald has been nominated twice before. McDonald won her 6th Tony Award for the role she originated on Broadway in 2014.

Regina King in nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or a television movie for  her work in American Crime. 

Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade was nominated for four awards. First, in the category outstanding production design for a variety, nonfiction, event or award special. Beyoncé is nominated alongside director Kahlil Joseph in the outstanding directing for a variety special category.  It is also nominated for outstanding picture editing for variety programming and in the outstanding variety special category.



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Tracie Thoms is nominated for outstanding actress in a short form comedy or drama series for her work in Send Me. The series is about a college professor who has the ability to send African Americans back in time to the days of slavery.

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Critics have noted the notable absence of Uzo Aduba, who has won twice, but was not nominated for her role in Orange Is the New Black.