Why Do Emmys Fail To Award Actors of Colour, Again And Again?

Emmy Awards backlash: During the 73rd Emmys no actor of colour managed to bag any one of the 12 major trophies in supporting and lead acting categories. The awards which were held in Los Angeles, California on Sunday didn't end on a positive note for most viewers who wanted to see history being written as the nominations this year were considered to be the most diverse so far. This has not gone down well with the netizens and #EmmySoWhite has been trending since.

Several people on the internet pointed out that not a single black, Asian or Latino actor won in any of the major categories. Many said they were disappointed but not surprised because Emmys so far have not dared to shake up the power structure to cause major disruptions. This wouldn't be the first time major awards in the West have been called out for discrimination and outrage has resulted in positive results too. It took a major movement like #OscarsSoWhite in 2016 to change the way the academy worked it has since then taken leaps in terms of inclusivity.

This year's awards were touted to be path-breaking as 44% of the spots in the acting nominations went to non-white people. This kind of representation for people of colour was the first time in Emmy history. And many thought this year would set a trend that would mark a gradual increase in diversity in the coming editions. 

Follow along here for all the winners and unforgettable moments from the 73rd #Emmy Awards! #Emmys #Emmys2021https://t.co/58PzBf9u0b

— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 20, 2021

With the criticism in previous editions, the event showcased a range of racially diverse hosts and performers. However, in the end, the awards remained whitewashed. Last year four of the 12 awards went to black actors.

In a first, black performer Cedric the Entertainer was the main compere. Mj Rodriguez was expected to grab the trophy for leading female actor and thus becoming the first-ever transgender performer to win in the category, ultimately losing to Olivia Colman for The Crown. Regé-Jean Page of Bridgerton fame, Bowen Yang and Michael K. Williams also lost out. Yes, women faired a tad bit better with Jessica Hobbs (The Crown) and Lucia Aniello (Hacks), winning for comedy and drama in the categories for direction. TV personality RuPaul was the only person of colour who received an Emmy, for his show Drag Race and broke the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of colour.

But it raises the question, why do such gala events fail to celebrate and acknowledge people of colour as winners in the true sense? Why do the efforts to celebrate their talent only remain an act of tokenism? Is challenging the power structure so tough? An award is not just an acknowledgement of good work done it is also a mark of respect and fairness in the fraternity. It helps boost the profile and salaries of actors. What will it take for the Emmys to acknowledge its bias and do better in future?

The views expressed are the author's own.