What does Rutina Wesley and the makers of Queen Sugar (cast, director, writer, boom mic operator, the guy who gets the coffee, anyone ) have to do to get an Emmy nomination somewhere?
For the second year in a row, OWN’s acclaimed and weighted family drama featuring an incredibly talented ensemble cast that consistently rakes in viewership, has found itself completely shut out of this year's Emmy awards.
Why? For what?
Well, of course, no one can say for certain…
The observation has already been made by Vulture’s Joseph Adlin, that while the TV Academy made huge strides in recognizing brown creators and performers, somehow female show-runners got the ‘ol disappearing act routine across the board. Queen Sugar was brought to the screen by Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay and frequently touts its commitment to building an inclusive team putting women squarely in the director's chair every episode.
Some observers have called the show underrated and suggest "it’s likely not on most folk’s radar" due to the networks implied in-general low viewership. That would be more convincing if it wasn't consistently covered, and praised, in "main stream" media and press. Aka: not just 'them magazines black folk read', but since we're on the topic of magazines black folk read, LOOK AT THIS. Absolute devastation. Plus, the appearance of streaming services gaining a foot-hold in the awards arena really questions the relevance that a traditional viewership module should have on nominations in the first place.
If the show is so unpopular and unknown; how is it possible that Kofi Siriboe, who beautifully plays single-father-ex-con Ralph Angel, has become a phenomenon all his own?
Through the show we watch the Bordelon siblings (Rutina Wesley, Dawn Lynn Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe) explore the themes of black family responsibility, black love (the straight and queer kind), drug addition, black fatherhood, police brutality against the black community, the history of disenfranchised black farmers, etc . And somehow, the show manages to handle these heavy topics with a grace and humanity that makes the experience and acting so realistic it’s almost surreal. We all have an Aunt Vi. We all have a know-it-all relative with money who means well. We all have a really smart, cool relative of dubious employment. We've just never seen them played on-screen as non-caricatures.
It also doesn’t hurt that the cast defies typical colorist standards of beauty and, frankly, are mesmerizing to look at. Once more people. The cast is so attractive, melanin infused, talented… and Rutina Wesley’s arms so nice… I actively have to tell myself to snap out of the “chocolate coma” and follow along with the story every now and then.
But maybe that's the gag?
Maybe the depiction of black life and struggle, an authentic depiction, just isn't seen as "dramatic" or entertaining enough for the deciders? Maybe the touching the portrayal of a black father trying to raise his young son and maintain a relationship with his son's recovering addict mother, just isn't sensational enough? Maybe the real life history of black farmers and share croppers being disenfranchised, not too far removed from today's gentrification of black communities, is just not seen as a pressing threat dangerous enough to be taken seriously?
Maybe the show needs more drugs. A stripper pole or two? Maybe an explosion. And throw in some hip-hop, just in case.
Either way, black creative's non-recognition from outside sources never stopped them from being productive and brilliant. While the talented cast comprised of industry vets, scene stealing breakouts, and Juilliard grads may not have gotten any Emmy recognition; I certainly hope they know that the impact of their work, allowing us to see ourselves completely reflected back to us uncompromised, does not go unnoticed.
That said, Congrats to all the black nominees. We'll be rooting for you.
