Emmys 2020 sets new record for most wins by black actors

The 2020 Emmys was a historic event for a number of reasons, and one of the most positive outcomes from the show was the fact that it set a new record for the most wins by black actors.

Seven black performers took home awards in major categories last night, which tops the previous record for the most wins by black actors that was set two years ago.

An overjoyed Zendaya celebrates her historic Emmy's win:

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Black actors received a particularly high number of nominations this year, and per Variety, the Television Academy reports that 34.3% of all nominees this year were black.

In total, nine of the 18 acting awards given out at the 72nd Emmys went to black actors, which is a huge increase from last year's numbers, where just 11.1% of winning actors were black.

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Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Uzo Aduba, and Zendaya all received awards during last night's ceremony, joining Eddie Murphy, Maya Rudolph, and Ron Cephas Jones, who received awards during Saturday's event.

Both Murphy and Rudolph won their Emmys for their December 2019 performance in the same episode of Saturday Night Live, with Rudolph also scooping her second Emmy for outstanding voiceover performance for her role on Netflix's Big Mouth.

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The first parent-child duo to win an Emmy also emerged victorious at the 2020 event, with Jasmine Cephas Jones, the daughter of winner Ron Cephas Jones, winning the short form acting award for Quibi's #FreeRayShawn alongside Laurence Fishburne.

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Zendaya's lead drama actress win for HBO's Euphoria was also a historic win, as at 24 she became the youngest ever actor to scoop best lead actress in a drama series.

This award became a historic win in more than one way too, as it marked the second time that a black woman has won in that category in the Emmys' 71-year history, with the award first being given to Viola Davis in 2015 for her starring role in How To Get Away With Murder.