Michael B. Jordan And More React To Record Number Of Black Actors Nominated For Emmys – Forbes

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Michael B. Jordan attends the 51st NAACP Image Awards at the ... [+] Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic)

BIG BLACK EMMYS ENERGY was the first line of an email I received on June 28th 2020.It was a response in a list-serve started by my acting teacher, actor Andrew Stewart Jones with the subject line Us. The beautiful Us.

Started as a safe space for black artist to share, vent and process, following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent social unrest; the exchange has grown into a beautiful celebration of blackness in its various representations.So its no wonder that on Tuesday July 28, 2020 the list was buzzing with celebration considering the Television Academy nominated a record number of Black actors forEMMYSwith a whopping 34.3% of the acting nominees being Black. Thats a considerable increase from last year, when Black actors made up 19.8% of the nominee pool.

Along with that single line Big Black Emmys energy there was also a video from actor Michael B. Jordans Instagram.In the video that has now been viewed over 1 million times and shared exponentially more, actor Michael B. Jordan celebrates the nominations in distinguishably unique yet magnificent style.

The video begins with the now iconic Variety Interview where Issa Rae is asked who shes rooting for tonight? She of course responds, Im rooting for everybody black.Next Wales Sue Me drops. Then the catalog of images of many black Emmy nominees from Issa Rae to Jeffrey Wright begin to flash on the screen. In the last moments of the video Jordan appears and offers a head nod, a smile, and a congratulations everybody! His caption, PROUD in all capital letters #EMMYS. Its short, beautiful, and powerful.

Issa Rae featured in Rooting For Everybody Black Emmy edition

Nominees in top acting categories included Billy Porter, Maya Rudolph, Sterling K. Brown, Zendaya, Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Jeremy Pope, Octavia Spencer and Kerry Washington to name a few.

After being shut out last year, Issa Rae is back with a nomination for her role in HBOsInsecure in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. While Maya Rudolph led performers overall with three nominations. Rudolph was nominated twice for Best Comedy Guest Actress this year, making her the first actor in Emmy history to be nominated twice in the same guest category in the same year. Giancarlo Esposito also received multiple nominations for the Supporting Actor In a Drama Series category for playing Gus Fring AMCsBetter Call Saul, and Guest Actor In a Drama Series nomination for playing Moff Gideon on Disney+sThe Mandalorian.

This Is Usstar Sterling K. Brown, also received double nominations with a nod for actor in a drama series field, in addition to his fourth consecutive Lead Actor in a Drama Series nom for playing Randall Pearce on NBCsThis Is UsBrown is also nominated in the Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category for his arc as Reggie on Season 3 of AmazonsThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

In total there were 36 actors of color nominated, while actors who have openly identified as members of the LGBTQ+ community received 11 nominations. Six people of color were nominated for hosting, while seven people who identified as LGBTQ+ also received nods.

Still with a record number of nods in acting categories and some in hosting, many feel it isnt enough. And many fear it could be a performative gesture. As the fight for fair representation in Hollywood continues, many arent satisfied with this limited progress since other non acting categories didnt see the same sort of parity. 2020 Writing and directing categories didn't go quite the same. Thats why the increase in the nominations of black actors feels somewhat bittersweet for some. While there is certainly a reason to celebrate, there is also a lot of work still to be done.