Amid all the talk around the lack of diversity at Hollywood awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards managed to set itself apart in recognizing black actors and actresses.
Idris Elba was the big winner, winning Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Beasts Of No Nation, and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Luther.
Viola Davis picked up the hardware for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for How To Get Away With Murder. And Uzo Aduba won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series on Orange Is The New Black. Bessie's Queen Latifah was honored for the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Latifah expressed her gratitude for the Screen Actors Guild Awards:
"This is what happens when you have the SAG group -- a group of very diverse people who understand the work that we all put in and that we all deserve the same opportunities. That's about it. I feel very positive about this day."
April Reign, managing editor of BroadwayBlack.com and creator of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag that got organized the diversity discussion on Twitter last year and this year tweeted:
For those saying the #SAGAwards are a knee-jerk reaction to #OscarsSoWhite: SAG voting occurred six weeks BEFORE Oscar noms were announced.
— April (@ReignOfApril) January 31, 2016
Voting for #SAGAwards ended yesterday, but the nominations were announced in early December, weeks before the Oscar noms. #OscarsSoWhite
— April (@ReignOfApril) January 31, 2016
Check out the rest of the winners on Us Magazine.
