In many ways, the 69th Annual Emmy Awards ceremony ― aside from an unwelcome cameo from former Press Secretary Sean Spicer ― was a celebration of diversity. But that doesn’t mean the TV industry can rest comfortably on its laurels, said Riz Ahmed, who became the first man of Asian descent to win an acting Emmy on Sunday night.
In a video posted by Variety, the actor knocked down the idea that an Emmy award could counteract generations of exclusion in the TV industry.
“I don’t know if any one person’s win of an award or one person snagging one role or one person doing very well changes something that’s a systemic issue of inclusion,” pointed out Ahmed in a measured, thoughtful statement to the press following his win. “I think that’s something that happens slowly over time.”
Sunday was a night of firsts for creators of color at the awards show, with stars like Donald Glover and Lena Waithe also taking home historic honors. Shows that forefronted women’s stories, and female stars, won big as well, with “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Veep,” and “Big Little Lies” taking home the lion’s share of the top honors.
But Ahmed’s comments ring particularly true given that, in 2017, such firsts still exist and such wins remain remarkable. These firsts stand as reminders that the TV industry, like so many American fields, has long been and continues to systemically exclude people of color and elevate the work of white people ― especially white men. Even with splashy efforts in recent years to improve representation onscreen and behind the camera, the vast majority of new TV shows still have white showrunners, and people of color are still underrepresented or tokenized onscreen.
A couple Emmys can’t change such a widespread problem.
Still, maybe it can help ― at least a little bit. Though Ahmed emphasized that a pervasive representation problem persists in the industry, he also saw hope that even individual wins like his own could help accelerate the path to inclusivity.
“If there are enough isolated examples of success,” he told reporters, “then maybe the dots start joining up and it’s not as slow a process as it sometimes is.”
Actors Sarah Paulson (L) and Allison Janney attend the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Gina Rodriguez and Shemar Moore speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Shailene Woodley, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Host Stephen Colbert (2nd from R) performs onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the Crown, John Lithgow, speaks onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer speaks onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Anna Chlumsky (L) and Ellie Kemper walk the red carpet during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Kate McKinnon accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award for "Saturday Night Live" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Issa Rae and Riz Ahmed speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Laura Dern accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie award for "Big Little Lies" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Anna Faris and Allison Janney speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Comedian Dave Chappelle and actor Melissa McCarthy speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor/director Donald Glover accepts Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for 'Atlanta' (episode 'B.A.N.') onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Rachel Bloom performs onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Director Jean-Marc Vallee accepts Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special for 'Big Little Lies' onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Host Stephen Colbert is dragged offstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Alexis Bledel and Gerald McRaney speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Alexander Skarsgard accepts Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for "Big Little Lies" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
TV personalities Seth Meyers and James Corden speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Ann Dowd accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "The Handmaid's Tale" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Host John Oliver accepts the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Alec Baldwin accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for "Saturday Night Live" onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Sonequa Martin-Green and Jeremy Piven speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Writers Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe accept the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series award for "Master of None" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Rashida Jones and Mark Feuerstein speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Jim parsons and Iain Armitage speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Lea Michelle and Kumail Nanjiani speak onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Priyanka Chopra and Anthony Anderson walk onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Audrey Morrissey and crew members accept the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program for "The Voice" onstage during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepts Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep" from actor Debra Messing onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus accepts Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep" onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Actors Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon with cast and crew of "Big Little Lies" accept the Outstanding Limited Series award onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Writer-producer Norman Lear and actor-comedian Carol Burnett speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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