Growing up as a young Black girl, I gravitated towards characters on screen who either looked like, or reminded me of myself and my community. Stars like Raven-Symoné, Kyla Pratt, Keke Palmer and China Anne McClain were pivotal figures for myself and other young Black girls to look to for representation in film and television during the 2000s and 2010s.

But apart from these select individuals, Black representation in lead roles has been a continuous issue within Hollywood. Black actors and actresses are more often than not considered for recurring or small supporting roles, many of which fall within the Black sidekick trope, the character used for comedic relief or the butt of stereotypical jokes. The privilege of being a lead actor or actress in a television show or film is something most talent in Black Hollywood could only hope for. However, within the last decade there’s been a significant turn towards addressing this issue of Black representation on screen. With the success of projects like ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder” and “Black-ish,” it’s safe to debunk the inaccurate stigma that Black-led projects don’t perform well. This year’s Emmy Award show served as a testament to the contributions Black talent can make in the industry, when put in the position to do so.

This year’s Primetime Emmy Awards was special because of the team producing the live event. According to Essence, this year was the first time in the history of the Emmys that the awards show was produced by an all-Black team of executive producers, led by Jesse Collins Entertainment. This coupled with the show being hosted by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson gave way for this year’s show to be a special one for fans of Black talent in Hollywood both on and off screen. This level of intention for inclusivity of Black talent preceding the production truly set the tone for the evening.

This year’s Emmys was filled with historic wins and heartfelt acceptance speeches. First and foremost Quinta Brunson, executive producer of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Janine Teagues in “Abbott Elementary.” Brunson is the first Black woman to win this award in over 40 years, with the last win by a Black woman being Isabel Sanford in 1981 for her role in “The Jeffersons.” Furthermore, Ayo Edebiri won her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sydney Adamu in “The Bear.” Edebiri became the third black woman to ever win this award, followed by Sheryl Lee Ralph in 2020 and Jackée Harry in 1987. As if these two respective wins weren’t historic enough, this year was also the first time two Black women won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in the same award year.

The sweep of Black Emmy wins did not stop there, as Niecy Nash-Betts took home an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of Glenda Cleveland in “Dahmer.” Days prior at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Show, Keke Palmer also made history as the first woman in 15 years to win an Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for her work on NBC’s “Password.”

As the contributions of Black talent in Hollywood become more apparent, it’s important to highlight areas in need of improvement. According to research conducted by McKinsey & Company, less than 6 percent of the writers, directors, and producers of US-produced films are Black. Furthermore, their study also stated that 87-percent of TV executives and 92 percent of film executives are white. Addressing concerns of diversity within off-screen talent is equally as important as it is to address within on-screen talent. It’s inspiring to witness current Black talent receive recognition, as they pave the way for more to follow.