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Home · Emmys

2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy

This isn’t the first time the Emmys has made such noticeable snubs — and it certainly won’t be the last.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
By Kimberly Wilson · Updated December 6, 2020

Because we’re rooting for everyone Black, we’re still celebrating this year’s Emmy nominations — which were noticeably a bit different (read as: Blacker) this time around.

In fact, the Television Academy noted that for the first time ever 34% of the nominations were Black actors.

Shows such as A Black Lady Sketch Show, Insecure and Watchmen all secured nods, while some of our favorite Black thespians — Tracee Ellis Ross, Zendaya, Issa Rae, Jeremy Pope, Regina King, Sterling K. Brown, Mahershala Ali and Yvonne Orji — solidified their nominee status.

But while the show has made many advancements on giving us our just due (interestingly timed to the racial reckoning happening across the world, due in large part over outrage of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s murders), it’s time to talk and discuss the names we aren’t seeing on that list, as they rightfully should be.

This isn’t the first time the Emmys has made such noticeable mistakes  — and it certainly won’t be the last. Here are a few folks who should also receive their flowers.

01
Tiffany Boone for “Little Fires Everywhere”
There is not another human on this planet who can perfect Kerry Washington other than Tiffany Boone. What was considered to be the breakout performance for the Little Fires Everywhere flashback episode “The Uncanny,” Boone plays a young Mia, instantly nailing Washington’s signature mannerisms and expressions.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
02
Viola Davis for “How To Get Away With Murder”
After six years, 2020 had us bid farewell to Viola Davis’ portrayal of the (sometimes) morally conflicted, courageous, sharp witted and sharp tongued Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. In what was considered to be the best season and a stellar performance from Davis — because when doesn’t she give it her all — the iconic actress didn’t walk away with a nomination this Emmy season.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
03
Angelica Ross for “Pose”
This Emmy season, Angelica Ross made history as the first female transgender performer to be a series regular in two series — FX’s American Horror Story: 1984 and Pose. And despite the fact that we said goodbye to her character in the latter, in what was considered an epic performance, it’s safe to say we’re all shocked by this snub.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
04
Regina Hall for “Black Monday”
What’s not to love about Regina Hall? On top of being one of the most underrated Black women in comedy, she also took over the second season of Black Monday. Hall plays Dawn Darcy, a stock trader who takes over The Jammer Group with Blair (Andrew Rannells) after they framed Mo (Don Cheadle) for causing the market crash.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
05
When Aunjanue Ellis Took Us To Church In “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel”
Aunjanue Ellis embodied Dr. Mattie Mae Clark in the Lifetime biopic The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. The actress ushered her on-screen children into gospel greatness giving us the perfect Saturday night escape on April 11. In an ESSENCE interview, the formidable actress explained her thoughts on why the film didn’t get a bigger response from mainstream audiences. “They don’t know who the Clark sisters are. They are Black famous. We know who they are better than anybody. We know they can sing better than anybody; we know their writing is better than anybody. They are as significant as their Bob Dylan, as their Bruce Springsteen,” she said.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
06
Angela Bassett
The Oscar-winner (just practicing) played Scott-King in the 2013 made for television production Betty & Coretta.
2020 Emmy Nominations: These Black Actors Were Snubbed By TV Academy
TOPICS:  emmys emmys 2020 nominations
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