Sheryl Lee Ralph has been a household name to many of us. But Monday night, she received her flowers.
The Abbott Elementary star brought down the house during her Emmys acceptance speech in what will be a memorable televised moment.
Ralph, escorted to the stage by co-star Tyler Jesse Williams, was emotionally moved as she received the trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. It has been 35 years since a Black woman won in the category.
The 65-year-old actress burst into song, singing a powerful rendition of Dianne Reeves’s “Endangered Species.”
“To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t couldn’t come true. I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like. This is what striving looks like. And don’t you ever, ever give up on you,” she tearfully declared on stage.
Ralph won the Emmy for her role as teacher Barbara Howard in the ABC mockumentary Abbott Elementary. She then called out her husband, children, and friends who voted for her to make her dream come true.
The audience of stars rose to their feet in a standing ovation, including Zendaya and Abbott creator-star Quinta Brunson.
Social media also praised the long-time actress after her emotional speech.
Ralph is the second Black woman to win the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Jackée Harry was the first to take home the win in 1987 for 227.
Harry honored Ralph on social media, sharing that they both auditioned for the role of Sandra Clark in the NBC comedy series more than three decades ago. Harry called her “one of the nicest people in Hollywood.”
Ralph spoke to PEOPLE following her Monday night victory, “One day I was shooting a movie with Robert De Niro, the great Robert De Niro, and in between shots he looked at me, and he said ‘You are great. You’re like really DGA, Damn Great Actress,’” Ralph recalled. ”’ But Hollywood’s not looking for you, they’re not looking for the Black girls, so you better wave that red flag and let them know you’re there because you deserve to be seen.’”
“Thirty years later, I am seen with my Emmy nomination,” she added. “And thank God I didn’t give up on me because it’s been a rough climb, but it’s worth every step.”
