Viola Davis Becomes First Black Woman to Win Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series

“The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity,” the “How to Get Away with Murder” star says

Viola Davis thanked the black women who have broken barriers before her during a moving Emmy acceptance speech for Lead Actress in a Drama Series on Sunday.

At the beginning of her emotional speech, the “How to Get Away With Murder” star quoted the 19th-century abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman.

“In my mind, I see a line,” she said. “And over that line I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me to get over that line but I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.

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