Tracee Ellis Ross just became the first Black woman in 30 years to be nominated for Outstanding Leading Actress in a comedy for her character in the hit series Black-ish.
The Black woman before her to have been nominated was Phylicia Rashad in 1986 for her role as Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show.
Before Rashad, only three other Black women had ever been candidates for the award- Diahann Carroll (Julia), Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons), Nell Carter (Gimme a Break!). Sanford is the only one of the women to have won the award.
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“At this age, at this point in my career, to be a first-time nominee is extraordinary,” said Ross to ABC.
“To be nominated on behalf of a show that I am so proud of – I have not yet gotten married or had a baby, and this is pretty up there on the list.”
Ross, aware of the historical significance of being nominated, has given nod to all the women that came before her in a series of Instagram posts for “Woman Crush Wednesday.”
“This whole other layer of the historical aspect is mind boggling to me,” said Ross. “It adds a whole other layer to this that is extraordinary and wonderful.”
Congratulations, Tracee!!