Donald Glover Becomes The First Black Director To Win An Emmy For Directing Comedy Series (Video)
At last night’s Emmy Awards, Donald Glover made history and made a point. Known to the musical world as Childish Gambino, the actor, writer, director, and comedian won two trophies for his show Atlanta. Glover won for his directing in a comedy series (the first Black director to do so), and lead actor role honors.
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The CBS event was hosted by Stephen Colbert. Dave Chappelle and Melissa McCarthy, both Emmy winners this year as well, presented the former award. The directing nod came for the FX series’ “B.A.N.” episode, which was the seventh in the show’s first season.
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“I want to thank [Donald] Trump for making Black people number one on the most-oppressed list,” Glover said during his acting win. “He’s probably the reason I’m up here.” Among the presenters at the 69th annual Primetime Emmys was former White House Press Secretary and Communications Director Sean Spicer. That invited guest drew some criticism, but did not affect Glover from making his point, albeit one that was met with laughter throughout much of the audience.
In his own press room backstage, Glover processed his wins. “It feels like a dream,” said the artist who notably made Funk-Soul LP “Awaken, My Love!” late last year. “I don’t want to make the best indie movie; I want to make the best movie. I don’t believe in labels like that. I’m glad I made history, but that’s not what I’m trying to do. I believe people deserve quality.”
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Writer Lena Waithe added to the history-making night. She became the first Black woman to win for her comedy writing. Lena scripted the “Thanksgiving” episode of Aziz Ansari’s Master Of None Netflix series. “The things that make us different — those are our superpowers,” she said. She then praised who she called her “LGBTQIA family,” calling them to “go out there and conquer the world. It would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it.”
Waithe is developing her autobiographical series The Chi for Showtime, with other projects in tow.