Emmy award history has, once again, been made.
Michaela Coel became the first Black woman to ever win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series.
She wrote — as well as executive-produced and co-directed — the critically acclaimed, widely loved HBO series “I May Destroy You.” Widely loved by viewers, anyway, if not always by the people doling out awards. The show, which focuses on young writer Arabella’s search for healing and peace after a sexual assault, was shut out by the Golden Globes earlier this year.
But the Emmys brought “I May Destroy You” some considerable love. It was up for nine Emmy awards this year — Coel’s win was one of two the show ultimately garnered.
Coel dedicated her award to sexual assault survivors, before delivering a stirring speech that encouraged others to take big, creative risks — and to do so without concern for who might, or might not, see.
“Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that is uncomfortable. I dare you,” she urged viewers.
Coel continued, “In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to in turn feel the need to be constantly visible, for visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success — do not be afraid to disappear, from it, from us, for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence.”
With her win, Coel beat out writers for other celebrated series, including the minds behind Netflix chess hit “The Queen’s Gambit” and beloved Marvel show “Wandavision.”
