Viola Davis and Mahershala Ali were two of the early 89th Academy Award recipients at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, February 26. Davis and Ali both celebrated their first Oscar win for their supporting roles in "Fences" and "Moonlight" respectively.
Davis' and Ali's victory however, held a bigger significance beyond just being able to bag one of filmdom's most coveted statuettes. Reuters noted that both thespians were only two of the seven 2017 nominated colored actors, it marks a positive contrast since there was no colored actor who was an Oscar nominee last year.
Davis is known to usually portray strong women of color in her films. "I became an artist, and thank God I did," opening her Oscars speech. Finally winning on her third try, a visibly emotional Davis continued, "We are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life."
Ali on the other hand, has a more special reason to brag. The 43-year-old Oakland native will now be forever remembered as the first-ever Muslim actor to win an Academy Award.
Anti-racist groups viewed the twin win as a silent vindication against the current administration's recent ban preventing travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen to enter the United States. The move in effect, triggered protests from both in and outside the country.
This also is a slap towards Trump's directive to impose stricter immigration measures in light of a recent incident involving Muhammad Ali, Jr.. The son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport early this month after immigration supposedly singled him out for being Muslim.
Variety reports that while Mahershala Ali did not lace his Oscars speech with political undertones, he did however declare with pride, "I'm a Muslim," when he won a Screen Actors Guild Award last month.
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