The 2021 crop of Emmy nominees is refreshingly diverse, and not in a forced, disingenuous way.  Michaela Coel, the creator and star of HBO’s I May Destroy You, scored nine nominations for her hit series[1] – after being completely shut out by the now-disgraced Golden Globes.  All five nominees for Reality/Competition Series Host are people of color, including RuPaul, Padma Lakshmi, and Daymond John[2].  And Mj Rodriguez, of FX’s Pose, has made history, becoming the first out trans woman to be nominated for a major acting award[3].

After years of criticism about which stories Hollywood chooses to celebrate, it seems the message has finally resonated with Emmy voters.  By no means does this suggest the entertainment industry has fixed longstanding inequities that have marginalized actors and creators of color for years.  But this breakthrough does signal a changing tide, and the buzz surrounding these nominations underscores just how important media representation is.

To those who don’t follow Hollywood closely, talk of awards season can seem frivolous at best and elitist at worst.  But it’s important to celebrate this recognition because it has greater cultural implications.

Many people, especially youth, look to entertainment to help shape their values and self-concept[4].  The most popular stories that are told, and the talent associated with those stories, represent what Hollywood, and society as a whole, values.  If the majority of those stories feature White actors and issues that affect White communities, the message is that stories about Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous people don’t matter.  And likewise, if tropes or stereotypes are the only representations we see, there’s an equally negative perception for viewers of color.  If people can’t see themselves reflected in the media they consume, it reinforces the idea that there’s no inherent value in their lived experiences.  It denies them access to community, suppresses their pride, and it strips them of a powerful tool for self-expression.

Better representation in media also exposes the masses to different cultures and deepens their understanding of plights that they wouldn’t encounter otherwise.  Think of the LGBTQ+ community and the early visibility provided by films like Paris Is Burning, the 1990 documentary about New York’s ball culture.  Though the film was a minor blip at the time of its release, it cleared the way for LGBTQ+ creators and projects to reach the mainstream.  There wouldn’t be series like Pose, Legendary, and RuPaul’s Drag Race without Paris Is Burning. 

In that same vein, there wouldn’t be a groundbreaking acting nod for Mj Rodriguez without Laverne Cox having been nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series four times.  Each moment of visibility becomes the catalyst for more visibility.  Today’s nominations will become tomorrow’s wins.

Lastly, representation matters because, in giving a director or screenwriter of color the space to tell their own stories, they have the freedom to create work that’s innovative, honest, and game-changing.  And in so doing, they prove the viability of their creative vision to Hollywood, and they become advocates for other creators who share their identity or a similar level of marginalization.

Take Jordan Peele, for instance.  With his directorial debut Get Out, he unearthed a commercial and critical hit that controlled the zeitgeist.  He became the first Black creative to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, he launched Daniel Kaluuya into the mainstream, and he injected fresh energy into the horror genre.  And since, we’ve seen him lend his Midas touch to several film and TV projects while also fostering the careers of other creators of color.  Representation isn’t only important for the viewer.  It’s just as critical for talent in front of and behind the camera.

Thus, when there’s a lot of buzz about diversity in award nominations, that excitement is rooted in so much more than the moment.  It’s about the hard-earned recognition and all the people who will be inspired or catapulted by those achievements.  Representation in media matters because it allows everyone to take part in the conversation, and it shows that there’s space for all stories.  When we see ourselves onscreen, we know there’s no limit to what can be achieved, and we can finally witness evidence of progress.

[1] Turchiano, Danielle. (July 13, 2021). ‘I May Destroy You’ Earns Nine Emmy Nominations After Golden Globes Snub. Retrieved from: https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/i-may-destroy-you-emmy-nominations-1235014285/

[2] Sun, Rebecca. (July 13, 2021). In an Emmys First, Performers of Color Comprise at Least Half of Drama Lead Categories. Retrieved from: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-emmys-diversity-nominations-1234981371/

[3] Blistein, Jon. (July 14, 2021). Mj Rodriquez Makes Emmys History as First Trans Woman Nominated in Major Acting Category. Retrieved from: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/mj-rodriguez-pose-emmy-nomination-1197103/

[4] Elbaba, Rawan. (November 14, 2019). Why on-screen representation matters, according to these teens. Retrieved from: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-on-screen-representation-matters-according-to-these-teens