
The African American Film Critics Association held its fourth annual AAFCA Awards Saturday to honor outstanding work in television. At the ceremony, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Thede, Yvonne Orji and other honorees reflected on representation, opportunities for emerging talent and the importance of equal pay for black creatives in the industry.
âIn the midst of a pandemic, itâs taking a lot of time for me to be away from my family for nine months to get this done. Itâs not something I take lightly,â Best Television Performance (Male) for â61st Street.â ) award winner Vance said in his acceptance speech at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles. âBut I also donât take my responsibility as a man lightly â as a black man, as a husband, as a father â to make sure I help tell the story and make a difference for all of us.â
This yearâs winners also include Salli Richardson of âBel-Air,â âSwagger,â âWomen of the Movementâ and âThe Gilded Age.â Not only did Quinta Brunson win Best TV Comedy, the creator, writer and producer of Abbott Elementary also received an AAFCA Breakout Star.
âInsecureâ stars Yvonne Orji and Kendrick Sampson laugh at the AAFCA Television Honors at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles on August 20.
Michael Buckner, Variety
Robin Thede, creator and star of âThe Black Ladies Sketch Showâ â which won the best writing award â underscores the need for inclusivity not only on screen, but behind the camera as well.
âWhen our writers start in the âBlack Ladies Sketch Showâ writersâ room, thereâs always a moment on their first day to look around, âI know itâs all black women, but I donât know thatâs all Black women,â Thede said. âAnd I think in a space where we donât have to explain what the Senegalese twist is, thatâs the magic of the show. â
Thede continued, âWinning a writing award is so special to me â so special to all of us â because of course it means we make you laugh and you enjoy it. But more importantly, It means our voices have been heard. In an industry where our voices are often imitated rather than celebrated, it is truly an honour.â
HBOâs âInsecureâ won this yearâs Impact Award, with Yvonne Orji and Kendrick Sampson accepting the award on behalf of the series.
âItâs a real honor to be part of such a culture-changing show,â Sampson said. âImpact [âInsecureâ] For the community, it shows us a blueprint for how to lead the community better than weâve ever discovered â paying black people what they actually deserve,â he added.
Quincy Isaiah, Robin Thede, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Solomon Hughes attend the AAFCA Television Honors Ceremony on August 20 at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles.
Michael Buckner, Variety
Orji then admits to âunsafeâ showrunner and star Issa Rae: âTThank you for giving us all a chance to let HBO and other networks know that you can find and discover new talent. Even if they donât have IMDB credits, [they] Itâs here. â
The event hosts included Tichina Arnold (âNeighborsâ), Nicoo Annan and Brandee Evans (âP-Valleyâ), Laz Alonso (âThe Boysâ), Dondre Whitfield, Thomas Jones (âJohnsonâ), Tami Roman (âThe Boysâ), âThe Ms. Pat Showâ), Kim Coles (âLooking for Joyâ), Wayne Brady (âMake a Dealâ) and Emayatzy Corinealdi.
Here is the full list of 2022 AAFCA Television Honors recipients:
Best TV Comedy
âAbbott Elementary Schoolâ (ABC)
Best TV Show
âOzarkâ (Netflix)
best rookie
âBelairâ (Peacock)
Best Documentary
âBlack and Missingâ (HBO)
Best Limited Series/Special Edition
âWomen in Actionâ (ABC)
Best International Production
Pachinko Machine (Apple TV+)
Breakthrough star
Quinta Brunson
best ensemble
âSwaggerâ (Apple TV+)
Time to Win: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO)
best writing
âThe Black Ladies Sketch Showâ (HBO)
best television director
Salli Richardson, âThe Gilded Ageâ (HBO)
Best Television Performance (Female)
Patina Miller, âPower Book III: Raising Kananâ (Starz)
Best Television Performance (Male)
Courtney B. Vance, â61st Streetâ (AMC)
Impact Award
âNot Safeâ (HBO)
Leave a Reply