Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar Sunday when he was named best supporting actor for the film "Moonlight."

Ali won the first award of the night.

In his emotional speech, Ali thanked his “wonderful teachers and professors” and shared advice with the audience: “It’s not about you; it’s about these characters. You are a servant. You’re in service to these stories and these characters.”

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He also thanked his wife, who gave birth a few days ago, for "being a soldier" through his acting career.

The win is a huge milestone for Muslim-Americans, especially after President Trump's executive order that temporarily banned citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. While the order was halted, the administration is planning to issue a new, similar order in the coming weeks.