List of black Primetime Emmy Award Winners and nominees - wikipedia List of black Primetime Emmy Award Winners and nominees This is a list of black Primetime Emmy Award winners and nominees. Contents 1 Facts and figures 1.1 Most nominations 1.2 Most wins 2 Lead Actor 2.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series 2.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 2.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie 3 Lead Actress 3.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 3.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 3.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role 3.4 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie 4 Guest Actor 4.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 4.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series 5 Guest Actress 5.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series 5.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series 6 Supporting Actor 6.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 6.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 6.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie 7 Supporting Actress 7.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 7.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 7.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie 8 Short Form Acting 8.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series 8.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series 9 Hosting 9.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality - Competition Program 10 Narrator and Voice - Over 10.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice - Over Performance 10.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator 10.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice - Over Performance 11 Performance and Special Class Awards 11.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group 11.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program 11.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class 12 Casting 12.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special 13 Choreography 13.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography 14 Costume Design 14.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes 14.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program 15 Directing 15.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series 15.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series 15.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie 15.4 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program 15.5 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series 15.6 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special 16 Hairstyling 16.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie 16.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special 17 Music 17.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music 17.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series 17.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction 17.4 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics 18 Producer 18.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking 18.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Programming ( One Hour or Less ) 18.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children 's Program 18.4 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series 18.5 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 18.6 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series 18.7 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special 18.8 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program 18.9 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series 18.10 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie 18.11 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series 18.12 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality - Competition Program 18.13 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series 18.14 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series 18.15 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short - Format Live - Action Entertainment Program 18.16 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program 18.17 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program 18.18 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program 18.19 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series 18.20 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series 18.21 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series 18.22 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special 18.23 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Live ) 18.24 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Pre-Recorded ) 19 Sound Editing 19.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special 19.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a One - Hour Series 20 Sound Mixing 20.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( One - Hour ) 20.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie 21 Writing 21.1 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series 21.2 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series 21.3 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special 21.4 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program 21.5 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series 21.6 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special 22 References Facts and figures As of the 69th Primetime Emmys in 2017, at least one African American has won in every acting category except Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Harry Belafonte and Sammy Davis Jr. were both nominated and therefore both were the first black nominees in 1956. Ethel Waters became the first dramatic performance nominee ( male or female ) in 1962, and was the first black female nominee. Harry Belafonte became the first winner ( male or female ) in 1960. Bill Cosby became the first dramatic performance winner ( male or female ) in 1966. Most nominations Debbie Allen - 19 Chris Rock - 19 Alfre Woodard - 17 Cicely Tyson - 14 Jacqueline Glover - 13 Andre Braugher - 10 Laurence Fishburne - 10 Keegan - Michael Key - 10 Donald Glover - 9 Whoopi Goldberg - 9 Samuel D. Pollard - 9 Wanda Sykes - 9 Paris Barclay - 8 Don Cheadle - 8 Bill Cosby - 8 James Earl Jones - 8 Jordan Peele - 8 Anthony Anderson - 7 Louis Gossett, Jr. - 7 Isabel Sanford - 7 Hayma `` Screech '' Washington - 7 Flip Wilson - 7 Thomas Carter - 6 Suzanne de Passe - 6 Ruby Dee - 6 Robert Guillaume - 6 Oprah Winfrey - 6 Most wins Hayma `` Screech '' Washington - 7 Jacqueline Glover - 5 Bill Cosby - 4 Chris Rock - 4 Alfre Woodard - 4 Debbie Allen - 3 Keith David - 3 Stanley Nelson - 3 Samuel D. Pollard - 3 Cicely Tyson - 3 Uzo Aduba - 2 Paris Barclay - 2 Andre Braugher - 2 Sterling K. Brown - 2 Suzanne de Passe - 2 Ja'Net DuBois - 2 Ava DuVernay - 2 Donald Glover - 2 Robert Guillaume - 2 James Earl Jones - 2 Regina King - 2 RuPaul - 2 Flip Wilson - 2 Lead Actor Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1970 Bill Cosby The Bill Cosby Show Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Lloyd Haynes Room 222 Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. 1972 Redd Foxx Sanford and Son Nominated 1973 Nominated Nominated 1980 Robert Guillaume Benson Nominated 1982 Nominated Nominated 1984 Nominated Sherman Hemsley The Jeffersons Nominated 1985 Robert Guillaume Benson Won First black actor to win in this category. 1988 Tim Reid Frank 's Place Nominated 2002 Bernie Mac The Bernie Mac Show Nominated 2003 Nominated 2012 Don Cheadle House of Lies Nominated 2013 Nominated 2014 Nominated 2015 Nominated Anthony Anderson black - ish Nominated 2016 Nominated 2017 Nominated Donald Glover Atlanta Won Second black actor to win in this category. 2018 Anthony Anderson black - ish Pending Donald Glover Atlanta Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1966 Bill Cosby I Spy Won First African American ( male or female ) to win a Primetime Emmy. First African - American actor to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. First African - American actor to win a Primetime Emmy. First black actor to be nominated in this category. First actor to win in this category. 1967 Won 1968 Won 1981 Louis Gossett Jr. Palmerstown, U.S.A. Nominated 1991 James Earl Jones Gabriel 's Fire Won Second black actor to win in this category. 1992 Harrison Page Quantum Leap Nominated Andre Braugher Homicide : Life on the Street Nominated 1998 Won Third black actor to win in this category. 2001 Gideon 's Crossing Nominated 2017 Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Won Fourth black actor to win in this category. 2018 Pending Jeffrey Wright Westworld Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1967 Ivan Dixon The Final War of Olly Winter ( CBS Playhouse ) Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. 1969 Ossie Davis Teacher, Teacher ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated Category was known as Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. 1970 Al Freeman Jr. My Sweet Charlie Nominated Category was known as Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. 1972 Billy Dee Williams Brian 's Song Nominated Category was known as Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. 1977 Louis Gossett Jr. Roots Won First black actor to win in this category. Category was known as Best Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. Levar Burton Nominated Category was known as Best Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. Ben Vereen Nominated Category was known as Best Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. John Amos Nominated Category was known as Best Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. 1978 Paul Winfield King Nominated Category was known as Best Actor in a Limited Series. 1979 Louis Gossett Jr. Backstairs at the White House Nominated 1984 Sadat Nominated A Gathering of Old Men Nominated 1988 Danny Glover Mandela Nominated 1991 Sidney Poitier Separate but Equal Nominated 1995 Charles S. Dutton The Piano Lesson ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated Laurence Fishburne The Tuskegee Airmen Nominated 1997 Miss Evers ' Boys Nominated Sidney Poitier Mandela and de Klerk Nominated 1998 Ving Rhames Don King : Only in America Nominated 1999 Don Cheadle A Lesson Before Dying Nominated 2001 Gregory Hines Bojangles Nominated Mos Def Something the Lord Made Nominated 2006 Andre Braugher Thief Won Second black actor to win in this category. 2011 Idris Elba Luther Nominated Laurence Fishburne Thurgood Nominated 2012 Idris Elba Luther Nominated 2014 Chiwetel Ejiofor Dancing on the Edge Nominated Idris Elba Luther Nominated 2015 David Oyelowo Nightingale Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie. 2016 Idris Elba Luther Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Cuba Gooding Jr. The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Courtney B. Vance Won Third black actor to win in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. 2018 John Legend Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Pending Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Lead actress Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1969 Diahann Carroll Julia Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. 1979 Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons Nominated 1980 Nominated 1981 Won First black actress to win in this category. 1982 Nominated Nell Carter Gimme a Break ! Nominated Nominated Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons Nominated 1984 Nominated 1985 Nominated Phylicia Rashad The Cosby Show Nominated 1986 Nominated 2016 Tracee Ellis Ross black - ish Nominated 2017 Nominated 2018 Issa Rae Insecure Pending Tracee Ellis Ross black - ish Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1982 Debbie Allen Fame Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. Nominated 1984 Nominated 1985 Nominated 1986 Alfre Woodard St. Elsewhere Nominated 1992 Regina Taylor I 'll Fly Away Nominated 1993 Nominated 1995 Cicely Tyson Sweet Justice Nominated 2013 Kerry Washington Scandal Nominated 2014 Nominated 2015 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Won First time two black actresses simultaneously nominated in this category. First black actress to win in this category. Taraji P. Henson Empire Nominated First time two black actresses simultaneously nominated in this category. 2016 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Nominated Taraji P. Henson Empire Nominated 2017 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an actress in a Lead Role Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1962 Ethel Waters `` Goodnight, Sweet Blues '' episode of Route 66 Nominated First black performer ( male or female ) to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for dramatic performance. First black woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. First black actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. First black actress to be nominated in this category. Guest performances in regular television series were included in the category at this time. 1963 Diahann Carroll `` A Horse Has a Big Head, Let Him Worry '' episode of Naked City Nominated 1964 Ruby Dee `` Express Stop from Lenox Avenue '' episode of The Nurses Nominated 1966 Eartha Kitt `` The Loser '' episode of I Spy Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone Cicely Tyson The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Won First black actress to be nominated in this category. First black actress to win in this category. First black actress to win a Primetime Emmy. Category was known as Best Lead Actress in a Drama. 1977 Leslie Uggams Roots Nominated Category was known as Best Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. Madge Sinclair Nominated Category was known as Best Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. 1978 Cicely Tyson King Nominated Category was known as Best Actress in a Limited Series. 1979 Olivia Cole Backstairs at the White House Nominated 1982 Cicely Tyson The Marva Collins Story ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated Alfre Woodard Unnatural Causes Nominated 1990 A Mother 's Courage : The Mary Thomas Story ( The Magical World of Disney ) Nominated 1991 Lynn Whitfield The Josephine Baker Story Won Second black actress to win in this category. 1995 Alfre Woodard The Piano Lesson ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated 1997 Miss Evers ' Boys Won Third black actress to win in this category. 2000 Halle Berry Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Won Fourth black actress to win in this category. 2002 Angela Bassett The Rosa Parks Story Nominated 2005 S. Epatha Merkerson Lackawanna Blues Won Fifth black actress to win in this category. Halle Berry Their Eyes Were Watching God Nominated 2007 Queen Latifah Life Support Nominated 2008 Phylicia Rashad A Raisin in the Sun Nominated 2009 Chandra Wilson Accidental Friendship Nominated 2011 Taraji P. Henson Taken from Me : The Tiffany Rubin Story Nominated 2014 Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful Nominated 2015 Queen Latifah Bessie Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. 2016 Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson 's Bar and Grill Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Kerry Washington Confirmation Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. 2018 Regina King Seven Seconds Pending Category was known as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Guest Actor Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1976 Roscoe Lee Browne Barney Miller Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series. 1986 The Cosby Show Won First black actor to win in this category. Category was known as Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. Earle Hyman Nominated Category was known as Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. Stevie Wonder Nominated Category was known as Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. 1989 Sammy Davis Jr. Nominated Cleavon Little Dear John Won Second black actor to win in this category. 1997 James Earl Jones Frasier Nominated 2011 Idris Elba The Big C Nominated 2016 Tracy Morgan Saturday Night Live Nominated 2017 Dave Chappelle Won Third black actor to win in this category. 2018 Sterling K. Brown Brooklyn Nine - Nine Pending Donald Glover Saturday Night Live Pending Katt Williams Atlanta Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1993 Laurence Fishburne Tribeca Won First black actor to be nominated in this category. First black actor to win in this category. 1994 James Earl Jones Picket Fences Nominated 1995 Paul Winfield Won Second black actor to win in this category. Vondie Curtis - Hall ER Nominated Danny Glover Fallen Angels Nominated Richard Pryor Chicago Hope Nominated 1997 Louis Gossett Jr. Touched by an Angel Nominated 1999 Charles Dutton Oz Nominated 2002 The Practice Won Third black actor to win in this category. Don Cheadle ER Nominated 2003 Charles Dutton Without a Trace Won James Earl Jones Everwood Nominated 2005 Ossie Davis The L Word Nominated 2007 Forest Whitaker ER Nominated 2008 Glynn Turman In Treatment Won Fourth black actor to win in this category. 2014 Joe Morton Scandal Won Fifth black actor to win in this category. Reg E. Cathey House of Cards Nominated 2015 Won Sixth black actor to win in this category. 2016 Nominated Mahershala Ali Nominated 2017 Brian Tyree Henry This Is Us Nominated 2018 Ron Cephas Jones Pending Guest actress Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1986 Clarice Taylor The Cosby Show Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. 1988 Beah Richards Frank 's Place Won First black actress to win in this category. Category was known as Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. 1989 Diahann Carroll A Different World Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category ( separate categories for actors and actresses ). 1991 Whoopi Goldberg Nominated 1993 Ruby Dee Evening Shade Nominated 2012 Maya Rudolph Saturday Night Live Nominated 2014 Uzo Aduba Orange Is the New Black Won Laverne Cox Nominated First openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Emmy 2017 Angela Bassett Master of None Nominated Wanda Sykes Black - ish Nominated 2018 Tiffany Haddish Saturday Night Live Pending Maya Rudolph The Good Place Pending Wanda Sykes Black - ish Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1986 Whoopi Goldberg Moonlighting Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Guest Performer in a Drama Series. Alfre Woodard L.A. Law Won First black actress to win in this category. Category was known as Guest Performer in a Drama Series. 1988 St. Elsewhere Nominated Category was known as Guest Performer in a Drama Series. 1990 Ruby Dee China Beach Nominated 1993 Rosanna Carter I 'll Fly Away Nominated 1995 CCH Pounder The X-Files Nominated 1998 Alfre Woodard Homicide : Life on the Street Nominated 2000 Beah Richards The Practice Won Second black actress to win in this category. 2003 Alfre Woodard Won Third black actress to win in this category. 2008 Diahann Carroll Grey 's Anatomy Nominated 2009 CCH Pounder The No. 1 Ladies ' Detective Agency Nominated 2011 Alfre Woodard True Blood Nominated Loretta Devine Grey 's Anatomy Won Fourth black actress to win in this category. 2012 Nominated 2015 Khandi Alexander Scandal Nominated Cicely Tyson How to Get Away with Murder Nominated 2017 Nominated Laverne Cox Orange Is the New Black Nominated 2018 Viola Davis Scandal Pending Kelly Jenrette The Handmaid 's Tale Pending Cicely Tyson How to Get Away with Murder Pending Samira Wiley The Handmaid 's Tale Pending Supporting Actor Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1979 Robert Guillaume Soap Won First black actor to be nominated in this category. First to win in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comedy - Variety or Music Series. 1982 Ron Glass Barney Miller Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series. Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series. 1986 Malcolm - Jamal Warner The Cosby Show Nominated 1989 Meshach Taylor Designing Women Nominated 2009 Tracy Morgan 30 Rock Nominated 2014 Andre Braugher Brooklyn Nine - Nine Nominated 2015 Nominated Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Nominated Keegan - Michael Key Key & Peele Nominated 2016 Andre Braugher Brooklyn Nine - Nine Nominated Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Nominated Keegan - Michael Key Key & Peele Nominated 2017 Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Nominated 2018 Pending Brian Tyree Henry Atlanta Pending Kenan Thompson Saturday Night Live Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1969 Greg Morris Mission : Impossible Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Continued Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series. 1970 Nominated Category was known as Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama. 1972 Nominated Category was known as Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama. 1982 Taurean Blacque Hill Street Blues Nominated 1995 James Earl Jones Under One Roof Nominated Eriq La Salle ER Nominated James McDaniel NYPD Blue Nominated 1997 Eriq La Salle ER Nominated 1998 Nominated 1999 Steve Harris The Practice Nominated 2000 Nominated 2002 Dulé Hill The West Wing Nominated Andre Braugher Men of a Certain Age Nominated 2011 Nominated 2012 Giancarlo Esposito Breaking Bad Nominated 2017 Ron Cephas Jones This Is Us Nominated Jeffrey Wright Westworld Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1977 Yaphet Kotto Raid on Entebbe ( The Big Event ) Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special. Moses Gunn Roots Nominated First black actor to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. 1978 Ossie Davis King Nominated Category was known as Best Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. 1979 Al Freeman Roots : The Next Generations Nominated Paul Winfield Nominated 1989 Danny Glover Lonesome Dove Nominated 1990 James Earl Jones By Dawn 's Early Light Nominated 1991 Heat Wave Won First African American to win in this category. 1992 Ben Vereen Intruders Nominated Andre Braugher The Tuskegee Airmen Nominated 1997 Obba Babatundé Miss Evers ' Boys Nominated Ossie Davis Nominated 1999 Don Cheadle The Rat Pack Nominated 2000 Danny Glover Freedom Song Nominated 2002 Don Cheadle Things Behind the Sun Nominated Jeffrey Wright Angels in America Won Second African American to win in this category. 2015 Michael Kenneth Williams Bessie Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie. 2016 Sterling K. Brown The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story Won Third African American to win in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Bokeem Woodbine Fargo Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. 2017 Michael Kenneth Williams The Night Of Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. 2018 Brandon Victor Dixon Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Pending Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Supporting actress Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1981 Marla Gibbs The Jeffersons Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series. 1982 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series. Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series. 1984 Nominated Paula Kelly Night Court Nominated 1985 Marla Gibbs The Jeffersons Nominated 1986 Lisa Bonet The Cosby Show Nominated Keshia Knight Pulliam Nominated Jackee Harry 227 Won First black actress to win in this category. 1988 Nominated 2006 Alfre Woodard Desperate Housewives Nominated 2007 Vanessa Williams Ugly Betty Nominated 2008 Nominated 2009 Nominated 2015 Niecy Nash Getting On Nominated 2016 Nominated 2017 Leslie Jones Saturday Night Live Nominated 2018 Zazie Beetz Atlanta Pending Leslie Jones Saturday Night Live Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1970 Gail Fisher Mannix Won First black actress to be nominated in this category. First black actress to win in this category. 1971 Nominated 1972 Nominated 1973 Nominated Madge Sinclair Trapper John, M.D. Nominated 1984 Nominated Alfre Woodard Hill Street Blues Won Second black actress to win in this category. 1985 Madge Sinclair Trapper John, M.D. Nominated 1991 Gabriel 's Fire Won Third black actress to win in this category. 1992 Mary Alice I 'll Fly Away Nominated 1993 Won Fourth black actress to win in this category. 1997 CCH Pounder ER Nominated Della Reese Touched by an Angel Nominated Gloria Reuben ER Nominated 1998 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Nominated Gloria Reuben ER Nominated 2005 CCH Pounder The Shield Nominated 2006 Chandra Wilson Grey 's Anatomy Nominated 2007 Nominated 2008 Nominated 2009 Nominated 2015 Uzo Aduba Orange Is the New Black Won Fifth black actress to win in this category. With this win, she becomes first actress to win for same role in both Comedy and Drama categories. 2017 Nominated Thandie Newton Westworld Nominated Samira Wiley The Handmaid 's Tale Nominated 2018 Thandie Newton Westworld Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1977 Olivia Cole Roots Won First black actress to be nominated in this category. First black actress to win in this category. Category was known as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. Cicely Tyson Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. Category was known as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series, Single Appearance. 1979 Ruby Dee Roots : The Next Generations Nominated 1979 Esther Rolle Summer of My German Soldier Won Second black actress to win in this category. 1985 Alfre Woodard Words by Heart ( Wonderworks ) Nominated 1988 Ruby Dee Gore Vidal 's Lincoln Nominated 1989 Paula Kelly The Women of Brewster Place Nominated 1991 Ruby Dee Decoration Day Won Third black actress to win in this category. 1994 Cicely Tyson Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All Won Fourth black actress to win in this category. Alfre Woodard Gulliver 's Travels Nominated 1999 Cicely Tyson A Lesson Before Dying Nominated 2001 Audra McDonald Wit Nominated 2006 Alfre Woodard The Water Is Wide ( Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation ) Nominated 2008 Audra McDonald A Raisin in the Sun Nominated Alfre Woodard Pictures of Hollis Woods ( Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation ) Nominated 2009 Cicely Tyson Relative Stranger Nominated 2013 Alfre Woodard Steel Magnolias Nominated 2014 Angela Bassett American Horror Story : Coven Nominated 2015 American Horror Story : Freak Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. Regina King American Crime Won Fifth black actress to win in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. Mo'Nique Bessie Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. 2016 Regina King American Crime Won Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. 2017 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. 2018 Adina Porter American Horror Story : Cult Pending Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Letitia Wright Black Museum ( Black Mirror ) Pending Category was known as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Short Form acting Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Kim Estes Dicks Won First black actor to be nominated in this category. First black actor to win in this category. 2018 Melvin Jackson Jr. This Eddie Murphy Role Is Mine, Not Yours Pending DeStorm Power Caught The Series Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 Tracie Thoms Send Me : an original web series Nominated First black actress to be nominated in this category. 2017 Kelsey Scott Fear the Walking Dead : Passage Nominated 2018 Diarra Kilpatrick American Koko Pending Hosting Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding host for a reality or reality - competition Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality - Competition Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 Steve Harvey Little Big Shots Nominated First African American to be nominated in this category. RuPaul RuPaul 's Drag Race Won First African American to be nominated in this category. First African American to win in this category. 2017 Won Snoop Dogg Martha & Snoop 's Potluck Dinner Party Nominated W. Kamau Bell United Shades of America Nominated 2018 Pending RuPaul RuPaul 's Drag Race Pending Narrator and voice - over Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding character voice - over Performance Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice - Over Performance Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 Keegan - Michael Key SuperMansion Nominated First African American to be nominated in this category. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding narrator Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator Year Name Show Status Milestone 2014 Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley Nominated First African American to be nominated in this category. First year of category. 2015 Neil deGrasse Tyson Hubble 's Cosmic Journey Nominated 2016 Keith David Jackie Robinson Won First African American to win in this category. Laurence Fishburne Roots Nominated 2017 Year Million Nominated 2018 Morgan Freeman March Of The Penguins 2 : The Next Step Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding voice - over Performance Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice - Over Performance Year Name Show Status Milestone 1999 Ja'net Dubois The PJs Won First African American to be nominated in this category. First African American to win in this category. 2001 Won 2005 Keith David Unforgivable Blackness : The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Won Second African American to win in this category. 2008 The War Won Performance and Special class awards Primetime Emmy Award for Best specialty act - Single or group Primetime Emmy Award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group Year Name Show Status Milestone 1956 Harry Belafonte Nominated First African American to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award ( tie with Sammy Davis Jr. ). First African American to be nominated in this category ( tie with Sammy Davis Jr. ). 1956 Sammy Davis Jr. Nominated First African American to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award ( tie with Harry Belafonte ). First African American to be nominated in this category ( tie with Harry Belafonte ). Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 1960 Harry Belafonte Tonight with Belafonte ( The Revlon Revue ) Won First African American to be nominated in this category. First African American to win in this category. Category was known as Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program. 1961 Belafonte New York Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series. 1977 Ben Vereen The Bell Telephone Jubilee Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music. 1978 Louis Gossett Jr. The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen - His Roots Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music. Leontyne Price Leontyne Price, Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic ( Live from Lincoln Center ) Won Second African American to win in this category. Michael Jackson Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Nominated Richard Pryor Nominated 1984 Debbie Allen Live... And in Person Nominated Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live Nominated 1985 Gregory Hines Motown Returns to the Apollo Nominated Patti LaBelle Nominated 1986 Sylvia Fine Kaye 's Musical Comedy Tonight III ( Great Performances ) Nominated Whitney Houston The 28th Annual Grammy Awards Won Third African American to win in this category. Sarah Vaughan Nominated Debbie Allen An All Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Nominated Stevie Wonder Nominated 1988 Ray Charles Irving Berlin 's 100th Birthday Celebration Nominated 1991 Damon Wayans In Living Color Nominated Keenen Ivory Wayans Nominated 1992 Natalie Cole Unforgettable, with Love : Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat King Cole ( Great Performances ) Nominated 1994 Whoopi Goldberg The 66th Annual Academy Awards Nominated The 68th Annual Academy Awards Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program. Comic Relief VII Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program. 1999 Chris Rock The Chris Rock Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program. 2000 Chris Rock : Bigger and Blacker Nominated 2001 Wayne Brady Whose Line Is It Anyway ? Nominated 2002 Nominated 2003 Won Fourth African American to win in this category. 2005 Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi Back to Broadway - The 20th Anniversary Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class Year Name Show Status Milestone 1981 Sarah Vaughan Rhapsody and Song - A Tribute to George Gershwin Won 1982 Andre De Shields Ai n't Misbehavin ' Won Nell Carter Won Gregory Hines I Love Liberty Nominated Casting Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Year Name Show Status Milestone Robi Reed The Tuskegee Airmen Won First African American to win in this category. 1998 Robi Reed Don King : Only in America Nominated 1999 Robi Reed A Lesson Before Dying Nominated Choreography Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography Year Name Show Status Milestone 1976 Lester Wilson Lola ! Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Achievement in Choreography. 1977 Donald McKayle Minstrel Man Nominated 1980 Lester Wilson Uptown - A Musical Comedy History of Harlem 's Apollo Nominated 1981 Sixty Years of Seduction Nominated 1982 Debbie Allen Fame Won Won Lester Wilson Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Nominated 1984 Debbie Allen Fame Takes a Look at Music ' 83 Nominated 1985 Fame Nominated 1989 The Debbie Allen Special Nominated 1990 Polly ( The Magical World of Disney ) Nominated 1991 Motown 30 : What 's Goin ' On ! Won George Faison The Josephine Baker Story Nominated Lester Wilson America 's Dance Honors Nominated 1992 Comic Relief V Nominated Debbie Allen The 64th Annual Academy Awards Nominated 1993 The 65th Annual Academy Awards Nominated 1995 The 67th Annual Academy Awards Nominated Travis Payne, LaVelle Smith 1995 MTV Video Music Awards Nominated 1999 Judith Jamison Dance in America : A Hymn for Alvin Ailey ( Great Performances ) Won Debbie Allen The 71st Annual Academy Awards Nominated 2008 Shane Sparks So You Think You Can Dance Nominated 2018 Chloe Arnold The Late Late Show with James Corden Pending Costume Design Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes Year Name Show Status Milestone 2018 Devon Patterson black - ish Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 Paul Tazewell The Wiz Live ! Won 2018 Paul Tazewell Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Pending Category was known as Outstanding Costumes For Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Programming Directing Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1993 Eric Laneuville Dream On Nominated 2009 Millicent Shelton 30 Rock Nominated Paris Barclay Glee Nominated 2013 Nominated 2014 Nominated 2017 Donald Glover Atlanta Won First Black director to win in this category. 2018 Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1984 Thomas Carter Hill Street Blues Nominated 1985 Nominated 1989 Midnight Caller Nominated Eric Laneuville L.A. Law Nominated 1990 Thomas Carter Equal Justice Won 1991 Won 1992 Eric Laneuville I 'll Fly Away Won 1993 Nominated 1998 Paris Barclay NYPD Blue Won 1999 Won 2002 The West Wing Nominated 2014 Carl Franklin House of Cards Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1995 Lloyd Richards The Piano Lesson ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special. 2000 Charles S. Dutton The Corner Won Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. 2005 George C. Wolfe Lackawanna Blues Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special. 2015 Dee Rees Bessie Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Directing for Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special. 2016 Anthony Hemingway The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story ( Manna From Heaven ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special. John Singleton The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story ( The Race Card ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Ava DuVernay 13th Nominated Ezra Edelman O.J. : Made in America Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1971 Mark Warren Rowan and Martin 's Laugh - In Won Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1989 Debbie Allen The Debbie Allen Special Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program. 2016 Chris Rock Amy Schumer : Live at the Apollo Nominated Beyoncé Knowles Carter Lemonade Nominated 2018 Stan Lathan Dave Chappelle : Equanimity Pending Hairstyling Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 2015 Lawrence Davis Bessie Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Lawrence Davis Hairspray Live ! Won Music Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding main title theme Music Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music Year Name Show Status Milestone 1999 George Clinton, Quincy Jones, La Rita Norman, Marie Norman The PJs Nominated First African Americans to be nominated in this category. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music composition for a Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1970 Quincy Jones The Bill Cosby Show Nominated First African American to be nominated in this category. 1977 Roots Won First African American to win in this category. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music direction Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction Year Name Show Status Milestone 1982 Luther Henderson Ai n't Misbehavin ' Nominated First African American to be nominated in this category. Harold Wheeler The 76th Annual Academy Awards Nominated 2005 Rickey Minor Genius : A Night for Ray Charles Nominated 2007 Harold Wheeler Dancing with the Stars Nominated 2008 Rickey Minor 50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominated 2009 Harold Wheeler Dancing with the Stars Nominated Rickey Minor The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominated 2011 An Evening of Stars : Tribute to Chaka Khan Nominated 2016 Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles : In Performance at the White House Nominated 2017 Stayin ' Alive : A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees Nominated Taking the Stage : African American Music and Stories that Changed America Won First African American to win in this category. 2018 Harold Wheeler The Oscars Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Year Name Show Song Status Milestone 1985 Debbie Allen Motown Returns to the Apollo Nominated 1990 Michael Jackson ( composer and lyricist ) Sammy Davis, Jr. 's 60th Anniversary Celebration `` You Were There '' Nominated 1997 Kenneth `` Babyface '' Edmonds ( composer ) Centennial Olympic Games : Opening Ceremonies `` The Power of the Dream '' Nominated 2008 Jordan Peele MADtv `` Sad Fitty Cent '' Nominated 2017 Common, Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins 13th `` Letter to the Free '' Won Chancellor Johnathan Bennett, Kenan Thompson Saturday Night Live `` Last Christmas '' Nominated 2018 Chancellor Johnathan Bennett, Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd `` Come Back Barack '' Pending Producer Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Year Name Show Status Milestone 2007 Jacqueline Glover, Spike Lee, Samuel D. Pollard When the Levees Broke : A Requiem in Four Acts Won Stanley Nelson Jonestown : The Life and Death of Peoples Temple ( American Experience ) Nominated 2009 Jacqueline Glover Section 60 : Arlington National Cemetery Nominated Forest Whitaker Brick City Nominated 2011 Stanley Nelson, Laurens Grant Freedom Riders Won 2015 Rashida Jones Hot Girls Wanted Nominated 2016 Stanley Nelson, Laurens Grant The Black Panthers : Vanguard of the Revolution ( Independent Lens ) Nominated Jacqueline Glover Jim : The James Foley Story Won 2017 Ezra Edelman O.J. : Made in America Nominated T.J. Martin LA 92 Won 2018 Yance Ford Strong Island Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Programming ( One Hour or Less ) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Programming ( One Hour or Less ) Year Name Show Status Milestone 1999 Larry Wilmore The PJs Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children 's Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children 's Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2000 Kevin Hooks The Color of Friendship Won 2005 Michael Carrington That 's So Raven Nominated 2007 Nominated 2011 Jacqueline Glover A Child 's Garden of Poetry Won 2013 A YoungArts Masterclass Nominated 2014 Wynton Marsalis - A YoungArts Masterclass Nominated 2015 Alan Alda and the Actor Within You : A YoungArts Masterclass Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1970 Bill Cosby The Bill Cosby Show Nominated Winifred Hervey The Golden Girls Won 1988 Nominated 2016 Kenya Barris, Anthony Anderson, E. Brian Dobbins, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, Courtney Lilly, Peter Saji, Jennifer Rice - Genzuk Henry black - ish Nominated 2017 Kenya Barris, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Courtney Lilly, Jennifer Rice - Genzuk Henry, Kenny Smith, Peter Saji Nominated Donald Glover Atlanta Nominated 2018 Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Stefani Robinson Pending Kenya Barris, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Courtney Lilly, Jenifer Rice - Genzuk Henry, Peter Saji black - ish Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding documentary or Nonfiction Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1998 Jacqueline Glover, Spike Lee, Samuel D. Pollard, Daphne McWilliams 4 Little Girls Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Non-Fiction Special. 2000 Jacqueline Glover American Hollow Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Non-Fiction Special. 2003 Jacqueline Glover, Donna Brown Guillaume Unchained Memories : Readings from the Slave Narratives Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Non-Fiction Special ( Traditional ). Jacqueline Glover Teddy : In His Own Words Won 2012 Gloria : In Her Own Words Nominated 2014 Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley Nominated Oprah Winfrey Running from Crazy Nominated 2015 Samuel D. Pollard Sinatra : All or Nothing at All Nominated 2017 Ava DuVernay 13th Won John Singleton L.A. Burning : The Riots 25 Years Later Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1998 Paris Barclay NYPD Blue Nominated 1999 Nominated 2006 Shonda Rhimes Grey 's Anatomy Nominated 2007 Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special The award was established in 2013 as the awards restructured previous categories for Outstanding Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Nonfiction Special. Outstanding Informational Series was also awarded prior to 1998, but from 1998 - 2012 was called Outstanding Nonfiction Series. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1993 Oprah Winfrey ( executive producer ) Michael Jackson Talks to... Oprah Live Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Informational Special. 1995 Debra Martin Chase ( executive producer ), Denzel Washington ( executive producer ) Hank Aaron : Chasing the Dream Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Informational Special. Quincy Jones ( executive producer ) The History of Rock ' n ' Roll Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Informational Series. 2001 St. Clair Bourne ( executive producer ), Cecil Cox ( executive producer ), Jacqueline Glover ( supervising producer ), Craig Laurence Rice ( executive producer ), Denzel Washington ( producer ) Half Past Autumn : The Life and Works of Gordon Parks Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Informational Special. 2013 Oprah Winfrey ( executive producer ) Oprah 's Master Class Nominated 2015 Neil deGrasse Tyson ( executive producer / host ) StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Nominated 2016 Nominated Morgan Freeman ( executive producer / host ) The Story of God with Morgan Freeman Nominated 2017 Neil deGrasse Tyson ( executive producer / host ) StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Nominated 2018 Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2018 Trevor Noah The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1989 Suzanne de Passe Lonesome Dove Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries Oprah Winfrey The Women of Brewster Place Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries 1993 Suzanne de Passe, Jermaine Jackson The Jacksons : An American Dream Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries 1995 Suzanne de Passe Buffalo Girls Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries 1999 The Temptations Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries 2000 David Mills The Corner Won Category was known as Outstanding Miniseries 2015 John Ridley American Crime Nominated 2016 Nominated Anthony Hemingway The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story Won LeVar Burton Roots Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 1995 August Wilson The Piano Lesson ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated 1997 Laurence Fishburne Miss Evers ' Boys Won 1998 Thomas Carter Don King : Only in America Won 2000 Halle Berry Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Nominated Oprah Winfrey Tuesdays with Morrie Won 2003 Forest Whitaker Door to Door Won 2005 Halle Berry, Ruben Santiago - Hudson Lackawanna Blues Nominated 2008 Susan Batson, Sean Combs A Raisin in the Sun Nominated 2014 Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. 2015 Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere Bessie Won Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. David Oyelowo Nightingale Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. 2016 Kerry Washington Confirmation Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. 2017 Oprah Winfrey The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. 2018 Michael B. Jordan Fahrenheit 451 Pending Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere Flint Pending Category was known as Outstanding Television Movie. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1970 Bill Cosby The Bill Cosby Show Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding reality - competition Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality - Competition Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2003 Hayma `` Screech '' Washington, co-executive producer The Amazing Race Won First African American to be nominated and win in this category. Won 2005 Hayma `` Screech '' Washington, executive producer Won 2006 Won 2007 Won 2008 Won 2009 Won 2017 RuPaul, executive producer RuPaul 's Drag Race Nominated 2018 Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Sam Bailey Brown Girls Nominated 2018 Wyatt Cenac aka Wyatt Cenac Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Trevor Noah The Daily Show - Between The Scenes Won 2018 Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short - format live - action entertainment Program The award was retired in 2016 and divided to recognize Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series and Outstanding Short Form Variety Series. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short - Format Live - Action Entertainment Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2013 Beyoncé Knowles Carter Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show Starring Beyoncé Nominated 2015 Keegan - Michael Key, Jordan Peele Key & Peele Presents Van and Mike : The Ascension Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2009 Whoopi Goldberg The 62nd Annual Tony Awards Nominated 2012 LL Cool J The 54th Annual Grammy Awards Nominated 2015 Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Shawn `` Jay Z '' Carter Beyoncé and JAY Z on the Run Nominated Audra McDonald Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ( Live from Lincoln Center ) Won 2016 Chris Rock The Oscars Nominated 2017 Kenny Leon Hairspray Live ! Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 LL Cool J Lip Sync Battle Nominated 2017 Nominated 2018 Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2016 W. Kamau Bell United Shades of America Nominated 2017 Won RuPaul RuPaul 's Drag Race : Untucked Nominated 2018 W. Kamau Bell United Shades of America Pending RuPaul RuPaul 's Drag Race : Untucked Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series This category was retired in 2015 and was separated into two categories -- Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1971 Flip Wilson The Flip Wilson Show Won Category was known as Outstanding Variety Series -- Musical. 1972 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety Series -- Musical. 1973 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety Musical Series. 2000 Chris Rock The Chris Rock Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. 2001 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Dave Chappelle Chappelle 's Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2015 Keegan - Michael Key, Jordan Peele Key & Peele Nominated 2016 Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2018 Trevor Noah The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1969 Bill Cosby The Bill Cosby Special Won Category was known as Outstanding Variety or Musical Program. 1970 The Second Bill Cosby Special Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety or Musical Program - Variety and Popular Music. 1971 Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne Harry and Lena Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Single Program - Variety or Musical - Variety and Popular Music. 1972 Flip Wilson The Flip Wilson Show ( Sammy Davis, Jr., Lily Tomlin and Ed McMahon ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Single Program - Variety or Musical - Variety and Popular Music. Suzanne de Passe Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Won Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program. 1985 Motown Returns to the Apollo Won Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Lena Horne Lena Horne : The Lady and her Music ( Great Performances ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Quincy Jones The 68th Annual Academy Awards Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 1997 Chris Rock Chris Rock : Bring the Pain Won Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 1998 Debra Martin Chase, Whitney Houston Rodgers & Hammerstein 's Cinderella ( The Wonderful World of Disney ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2000 Chris Rock Chris Rock : Bigger and Blacker Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Chris Rock : Never Scared Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2005 Dave Chappelle, Stan Lathan Dave Chappelle : For What It 's Worth Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2007 Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes : Sick and Tired Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2009 Chris Rock Chris Rock : Kill the Messenger Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes : I'ma Be Me Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2016 Beyoncé Knowles Carter Lemonade Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Live ) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Live ) Year Name Show Status Milestone 2018 John Legend, Mike Jackson Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Pre-Recorded ) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special ( Pre-Recorded ) Year Name Show Status Milestone 2018 Dave Chappelle, Stan Lathan, Rikki Hughes Dave Chappelle : Equanimity Pending Sound Editing Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1991 Joe Earle Separate But Equal Nominated 1992 Joe Earle Cast a Deadly Spell Nominated 1992 Joe Earle Deadlock Nominated 1992 Joe Earle I 'll Fly Away Nominated 1998 Joe Earle From the Earth to the Moon Nominated 1999 Joe Earle Storm of the Century Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a One - Hour Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a One - Hour Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1998 Joe Earle Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Nominated Sound Mixing Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( One - Hour ) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( One - Hour ) Year Name Show Status Milestone 2008 Joe Earle Dexter Nominated 2009 Joe Earle Glee Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie Year Name Show Status Milestone 2001 Joe Earle Rodgers & Hammerstein 's South Pacific Nominated 2012 Joe Earle American Horror Story Nominated 2013 Joe Earle American Horror Story : Asylum Nominated 2014 Joe Earle American Horror Story : Coven Nominated 2015 Joe Earle American Horror Story : Freak Show Nominated 2016 Joe Earle The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story Won 2018 Joe Earle The Assassination of Gianni Versace : American Crime Story Pending Writing Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 2002 Larry Wilmore The Bernie Mac Show Won 2017 Donald Glover Atlanta Nominated Stephen Glover Nominated Lena Waithe Master of None Won First African - American woman to win in this category. 2018 Donald Glover Atlanta Pending Stefani Robinson Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1957 Louis S. Peterson Goodyear Television Playhouse Nominated Category known as Best Teleplay Writing - One Hour or More. Peterson was first African - American writer nominated for an Emmy. David Mills NYPD Blue Nominated 1997 Nominated 2006 Shonda Rhimes Grey 's Anatomy Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1995 August Wilson The Piano Lesson ( Hallmark Hall of Fame ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or a Special. 2000 David Mills The Corner Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie. 2015 Dee Rees Bessie Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special. John Ridley American Crime ( Episode One ) Nominated 2016 Joe Robert Cole The People v. O.J. Simpson : American Crime Story ( The Race Card ) Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program Year Name Show Status Milestone 2017 Ava DuVernay 13th Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Year Name Show Status Milestone 1971 Flip Wilson The Flip Wilson Show Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or Music. 1972 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or Music. 1973 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or Music. 1992 Larry Wilmore In Living Color Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. 1997 Chris Rock Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. 1998 Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes The Chris Rock Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. 1999 Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. 2000 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. 2001 Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Dave Chappelle Chappelle 's Show Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. 2009 Wyatt Cenac The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series. 2011 Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series. 2012 Won 2013 Travon Free Nominated 2014 Nominated Keegan - Michael Key, Jordan Peele Key & Peele Nominated 2015 Travon Free The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Won Keegan - Michael Key, Jordan Peele Key & Peele Nominated 2016 Nominated Michael Che Saturday Night Live Nominated Ashley Nicole Black, Mathan Erhardt Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Nominated 2017 Ashley Nicole Black, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free Nominated Amber Ruffin Late Night with Seth Meyers Nominated Michael Che Saturday Night Live Nominated 2018 Ashley Nicole Black, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Pending Amber Ruffin Late Night with Seth Meyers Pending Michael Che, Sam Jay, Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori Saturday Night Live Pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Year Name Show Status Milestone 1977 Ntozake Shange An Evening with Diana Ross ( The Big Event ) Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing in a Comedy - Variety or Music Special. 1997 Chris Rock Chris Rock : Bring the Pain Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program. 2000 Chris Rock : Bigger and Blacker Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Chris Rock : Never Scared Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. 2009 Chris Rock : Kill the Messenger Won Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes : I'ma Be Me Nominated Category was known as Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special. 2015 Keegan - Michael Key, Jordan Peele Key & Peele Super Bowl Special Nominated 2017 Ashley Nicole Black, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents ' Dinner Won 2018 Ashley Nicole Black, Mathan Erhardt Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents The Great American * Puerto Rico ( * It 's Complicated ) Pending References Jump up ^ `` Mark Warren ''. Emmys. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 19 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_black_Primetime_Emmy_Award_winners_and_nominees&oldid=856222191 '' Categories : Primetime Emmy Awards Lists of black people Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 23 August 2018, at 18 : 28 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: first african-american actress to win an emmy award
Answer: Harry Belafonte