Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP ImagesWay to go, Viola Davis.
At the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, the star of ABC's How to Get Away With Murder became the first black woman to win the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Davis beat Homeland's Claire Danes, Empire's Taraji P. Henson, Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany, Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss and House of Cards' Robin Wright. Davis shared a sweet moment with Henson as she made her way up to the stage, and during her acceptance speech, Scandal's Kerry Washington become visibly emotional.
"'In my mind I see a line, and over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line.' That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s," Davis said. "And let me tell you something, the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here's to all the writers, the awesome people—Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes—people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading women, to be black. And to the to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union, thank you for taking us over that line."
Davis' powerful speech inspired many to share in her joy via Twitter:
How to Get Away With Murder returns for a second season Thursday at 10 p.m.
Watch Fashion Police's 2015 Emmy Awards special tonight at 8, only on E!