Tracee Ellis Ross poses with her Golden Globe Award for Best Actress—Television Series Musical or Comedy, for her role in Black-ish, in the press room at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 8, 2017, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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Not only did black Hollywood shine during Sunday night's Golden Globes, but one actress also made history. Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross won a Golden Globe Sunday for Best Actress—Television Series Musical or Comedy and became the first black woman to win in that category since 1983, when Debbie Allen won it for Fame.


Ross' acceptance speech was both poignant and timely as she dedicated her award to other black women and women of color.

“This is for all of the women, women of color—colorful people,” Ross said, “I see you; we see you. It is an honor to be on this show, Black-ish.”


Backstage, Ross spoke about legacy and being the daughter of Diana Ross: “It feels like [performing] was something I was raised to do. I never felt like I was in my mother’s shadow—I’ve actually always felt I was in my mother’s embrace. Part of the way she raised me, and all five of her kids, is really to follow my heart and my dreams and do the hard work to get there.”

Ross wasn't the only black person to take home awards Sunday night. Following Ross' award, FX's Atlanta picked up the award for Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy. And its creator and star, Donald Glover, did something no one else will probably ever do in an acceptance speech, and that was thank rapper Migos and the city of Atlanta.



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“I just really want to thank Atlanta and all the black folks in Atlanta. For real,” he said. “Just for being alive and doing amazing [things] and being amazing people. I couldn’t be here without Atlanta. And I really want to thank the Migos—not for being in the show—but for making ‘Bad and Boujee.’ Like, that’s the best song ever.”


Joining Glover on the stage was the show's producer, Dianne McGunigle; his brother and writer on the show, Stephen Glover; director Hiro Murai; and actors Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz.

But the ensemble award wasn't the only one Glover took home. He also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor—Television Series Musical or Comedy, beating out Jeffrey Tambor, Nick Nolte, Anthony Anderson and Gael García Bernal.


As the evening went on, Viola Davis proved the fifth time's the charm as she won her first Golden Globe, awarded the trophy for Best Supporting Actress—Motion Picture for her role in Fences.


“This is my fifth nomination. I took all the pictures and went to the luncheon, but it’s right on time,” Davis said.

“To all the people who believed in this piece of work, it’s not every day that Hollywood thinks of translating a play to screen. It doesn’t scream moneymaker. But it does scream art. It does scream heart,” Davis explained.


Davis also thanked her co-star Denzel Washington. “Thank you for being an extraordinary leader, great actor, great director. Thank you for saying ‘Trust me, and remember the love.’"

The evening's pièce de résistance came when Moonlight took home the final award at the 74th annual Golden Globes, Best Motion Picture—Drama. The film, which was directed by Barry Jenkins, beat out Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Lion and Manchester by the Sea.


The film follows a young boy named Chiron who is trying to find his identity as he grows into manhood.

“As someone who went eight years without making a piece, I thank A24. A24. A24," Jenkins said, referring to the production company behind the film.


"There's a myth of what a film with a cast that looks like this, where it can show," said Jenkins. "This movie has defied those perceptions."

Although there were a few disappointments during the night, including Moonlight's Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris leaving empty-handed, as well as Denzel Washington losing to Casey Affleck, the night proved that even with the challenges of the lack of diversity in Hollywood, every once in a while, they get it right.