Speech of Sheryl Lee Ralph Should Nominate for an Emmy

Sheryl Lee Ralph chose to take viewers to church after accepting her Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

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She made history as the second Black winner in the category, when she sang a hymn at the mic.

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The last time this happened was in 1987 when Jackee Harry won for her part in 227. Lee Ralph received the award for her performance at Abbott Elementary.

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Her performance of Dianne Reeve's "Endangered Species" received a standing ovation from the audience.

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"To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn't, wouldn't, couldn't come true, I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like — this is what striking looks like," she said after she sang.

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[{"selector":"#anim-6f4e4ddf-102c-4154-a0f9-563cb851f146","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13d3cca9-3042-4a4d-a5e9-f636035dee01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-97.53364%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] "And don't you ever, ever give up on you, because if you get a Quinta Brunson in your corner, if you get a husband like mine in your corner, if you get children like mine in my corner, and if you've got friends like everybody who voted for me, cheered for me, loved me, thank you, thank you, thank you."

Quinta Brunson, Lee Ralph's co-star in Abbott Elementary, is also honored tonight for her writing and acting. The show has been won for an Emmy for Best Writing for a Comedy Series.

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Lee Ralph received praise from Harry after her performance and speech, who congratulated her on Twitter.

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[{"selector":"#anim-d29eb6df-8339-4ccf-8218-791cb106df26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c7b4f54-86a2-4562-a8d9-757e3931c480","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-97.53364%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] "Winning my Emmy was a pinnacle of my career, but it was also a lonely event," Harry wrote. "I've been the first black woman to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for 35 years, but it all changes today... and it's gone full circle!" Learn more