#EmmysSoWhite: Disappointing night for actors of color

 #EmmysSoWhite went viral after the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards concluded last night.

Just when you thought Hollywood was starting to "get it" re diversity and representation, along comes this year's Emmy Awards to remind us that our society still a long way to go before the the entertainment industry begins to look like America.

All the acting categories went to Whites despite a record number of 49 non-White creatives nominated in the acting and reality competition categories.

The only people of color that won Emmys were RePaul,  for Outstanding Competition and Michaela Coel for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Seires or Movie. 

For a complete list of Emmy winners, click here.

After last year's Emmys, there were high hopes that this year would be more representative of the demographics of the nation. In 2020, four actors winning major categories – Zendaya (“Euphoria”), Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”) and Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”), with this year plummeting to zero.

The Emmys tried to give the appearance of diversity: Cedric the Entertainer was the evening's host and several of the presenters were of color, but that didn't mask what was becoming more and more obvious as the evening wore on.

One of the few divergences from the colorless telecast was Debbie Allen receiving the Governor's Award, given to someone who has made great contributions to the industry. In her long illustrious career, Allen has been an actor, director, producer and mentor.

"It’s taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time. A lot of courage and creativity and fight and faith to believe that I could keep going and I have," Allen said during her acceptance speech.

The biggest winner for the night was the British series, The Crown, a fictional depiction of the life of the Great Britain's royal family.

The biggest loser of the73rd Primetime Emmys was the much needed diversity Hollywood likes to talk about ... a lot ... but words mean nothing if action doesn't back up those words.

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