While this year gave us #OscarsSoWhite, the Tony Awards gave us divine diversity and #BlackExcellence.
A record 14 nominations were announced for performers of color, including 16 noms for Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s hip-hopera, Hamilton. Most important, for the first time in the award show’s history, all four musical roles were granted to actors of African descent.
Best Actor in a Musical: Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton
Best Actress in a Musical: Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Oh, and did we mention that the First Couple introduced Hamilton, which also ended up winning Best Musical?
And The Colored Purple won Best Revival of a Musical.
While Eclipsed only won for Best Costume Design, Lupita Nyong’o and company killed the red carpet and still showed that a play written, directed, and acted by Black/African women is possible.
The Color Purple and OITNB‘s Danielle Brooks may not have won in her category, but she was so happy to be there with the people she loved the most:
And, of course, legend and expecting mother Audra McDonald glowed.
Given that this was the Blackest Tony Awards ever, this Tweet perfectly sums the night up:
Just saying.
SOURCE: Twitter | PHOTO CREDIT : Getty