Michaela Coel, born Michaela Ewuraba Boakye-Collinson is an actor, writer, director, producer and singer.
Coel won her first Emmy award, for outstanding writing in a limited or anthology series in recognition of her HBO drama series ‘ I May Destroy You’.
The feat also makes her the first black woman to win in that category. Having carved a niche with her pen, Coel’s speech was one of the strongest and powerful of the night.
“Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that is uncomfortable. I dare you. In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to, in turn, feel the need to be constantly visible—for visibility, these days, seems to somehow equate to success—do not be afraid to disappear from it, for us, for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence” she said, whiles dedicating the award to every single survivor of sexual assault.
THIS right here! Your truth and your presence is a beacon, an elixir….@MichaelaCoel ❤❤❤🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿 🎥@TheEmmys pic.twitter.com/Z2OBnV4KN6
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) September 20, 2021
Coel rose to fame after the screen success of her comedy series ‘ chewing gum ‘ in 2016. In what appeared as a controversial snub of ‘ I May Destroy You’ by Golden Globes, this Emmy win is widely satisfying.
‘I May Destroy You’ speaks about the problematic topic of sexual assault with authority and different level of enthusiasm. The New York Times put it as a “plot built around a hazily remembered rape (based on Coel’s own experience), and the processes of recovery and investigation that follow. But the show is never just about that.”
We became the generation interested in ourselves. We have no problem with self-involvement. They call us vain; we say we must have got it somewhere, so technically we’re blameless, so we’re monstrous and shameless, look at us while we’re talking to you. We are the generation that decided we should be looked at. No more to documentaries of undiscovered worlds, of undercover investigations, of unreported people. We are the generation that decided, if you won’t look at us, we’ll look at ourselves. – Coel