By Audrey J. Bernard

The star-studded 25th annual Critics’ Choice Awards (CCA), recognizing achievements in film and television, were held Sunday, January 12, 2020, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and although major award nominations and/or wins eluded Black talent at previous award shows due to a lack of diversity in the selection process, they did much better at this event – and deservingly so! Hosted by acclaimed film television and stage actor Taye Diggs, the CCA recognized television shows and films, and people who created them.

Ava DuVernay’s masterpiece When They See Us — the moving and powerful story of the Central Park Five, the five Black teenage boys who were wrongfully convicted of rape and assault charges of a white female jogger in the park — won two CCA for BEST LIMITED SERIES When They See Us and BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us.

When her name was announced, DuVernay and her cast members rushed on stage with jubilation to a standing ovation. “Thank you for standing, that’s very kind,” she began, as the Netflix cast stood right by her side on the stage, including Niecy Nash, Asante Blackk and Jharrel Jerome. “Thank you to the critics for finally letting us take a stage. Yeah!”

Not one to ever shy away from an opportunity, DuVernay’s acceptance speech was as eloquent as the movie. She broke it down! “We made a four-hour, five-part film that was an act of love,” she continued. “179 actors, 117 of them having speaking parts, 312 members of the crew, my 3 co-writers, my comrades at Array, my fellow producers at participant Tribeca and Harpo and our great champions at Netflix, who let a Black woman do her thing. What can I say.”

DuVernay recalled, “The series began with a tweet from Raymond Santana, and now he and Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam and the mighty Korey Wise stand for something larger than they ever imagined. They stand for justice. They shine bright like the gems that they always were, but that we never saw. If you watch their story and felt something at that moment, I invite you to consider doing something. There’s no right thing to do. Do what you feel, where you are, but don’t let your anger and sadness be all.”

She continued, “There’s no right thing to do. Do what you feel, where you are but don’t let your anger and sadness be all. Cases like this are happening all around the world, in this country, most specifically on our watch. People who are poor and innocent are behind bars, while the rich and guilty walk free and gain power.” Always one to give back, she r left audiences with an inspiring message by late poet, Audre Lorde.

Another highpoint of the CCA was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Eddie Murphy by Keegan-Michael Key. Murphy was feted for his extraordinary career. Other big winners included:

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons. BEST LIMITED SERIES When They See Us. BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Regina King, Watchmen. BEST COSTUME DESIGN Ruth E. Carter, Dolemite Is My Name. BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE Us. BEST COMEDY Dolemite Is My Name. To see the complete list of winners, click here.

Photo cap

15-1-The cast and crew of When They See Us, which won the Critics Choice Awards for Best Limited Series and a Best Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie Made For Television for Jharrel Jerome, celebrate backstage on January 12, 2020, in Santa Monica (L-R) John Leguizamo, Asante Blackk, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Ava DuVernay, Robert De Niro, Niecy Nash, Jharrel Jerome, Berry Welsh and Jane Rosenthal. (Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

15-2-Eddie Murphy

15-3-Jharrel Jerome