Jharrel Jerome Made History At The Emmys And The Reactions Were Truly Amazing

"It's an honor. It's a blessing, and I hope this is a step forward for Dominicans, for Latinos, for Afro-Latinos."

The 2019 Emmys had a lot of good wins and speeches, but one of the best had to be when Jharrel Jerome won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in When They See Us.

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The 21-year-old, who played Korey Wise of the Exonerated Five, is now the first Afro-Latino to win an Emmy for acting. (He's also the youngest to ever win in the category!)

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"It's an honor. It's a blessing, and I hope this is a step forward for Dominicans, for Latinos, for Afro-Latinos," Jerome told Remezcla backstage at the Emmys after his win. "It's about time we are here."

And though his reaction to winning and his speech were amazing, one of the standout moments was when the actual Exonerated Five — Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, and Yusef Salaam — stood up and gave Jerome a standing ovation.

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"I feel like I'm on the basketball team and I made that final shot and they’re in the back [cheering]," Jerome said backstage. "I felt like I was in a championship game, and we went through our final hurrah. ... Thirty years ago they were sitting in a prison cell, falsely incarcerated, and today they’re in suits styled by designers for the Emmys."

Here are some of the best reactions to Jerome's win:

Makho Ndlovu @makhondlovu

The moment that Angela Bassett announces Jharrel Jerome as the winner! #Emmys

01:44 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Nicole Perez @nicole_perez1

Everyone when Jharrel Jerome won #Emmys #Emmys2019

01:22 AM - 23 Sep 2019

⭐️ lia, la morena ⭐️ @lialamorena

I bet people are tired of me adding the 🇩🇴 flag to any of the tweets regarding Jharrel or adding that he’s Afro-Latino/Dominicano, but it’s so fucking necessary. Like this is the representation the Black latinx community has been asking for! VISIBLE UNDENIABLE BLACKNESS. https://t.co/PA22pBQXZm

03:24 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Jharrel Jerome Stan Account @quran_malik

I Knew When Angela Bassett Took That Moment To Say Jharrel’s Name....He WON That Shit...Also Imagine The Legendary Angela Bassett Awarding You I Just- #Emmys

01:28 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Shantira Jackson @tira_tira_tira

Jharrel Jerome won an Emmy AND then hugged Angela Bassett! This is why we watch television. Networks, plz take cues from this!

01:26 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Rebecca Theodore-Vachon @FilmFatale_NYC

Seeing Mahershala Ali give Jharrel Jerome a standing ovation is really something. https://t.co/lbiuP4eDW2

01:41 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Nancy Wang Yuen @nancywyuen

I teared up hearing Jharrel Jerome say “papa, te quiero.” #Emmys

01:32 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Strong Black Lead @strongblacklead

Congratulations, Jharrel Jerome 🙌🏾 Your performance was one to be remembered! You embodied Korey Wise #WhenTheySeeUs #Emmys2019

01:29 AM - 23 Sep 2019

holli @vlleneuve

jharrel jerome is 21 years old and an emmy winning actor who's starred in a best picture winning film... that's powerful

01:24 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Tre'vell Anderson @TrevellAnderson

Korey Wise holding up Jharrel Jerome’s Emmy as the young cast of #WhenTheySeeUs celebrate. A moment. I almost cried at the Netflix after party. #Emmys

02:10 PM - 23 Sep 2019

Jharrel Jerome Stan Account @SylviaObell

Jharrell and Korey Wise with this Emmy... I’m not crying you’re crying!

12:07 PM - 23 Sep 2019

˗ˋˏ K8 ˎˊ˗ @kaitmcnab

Jharrel Jerome 9 hours before he became the second-youngest actor to ever win for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie on his first try

01:57 AM - 23 Sep 2019

Congrats, Jharrel!

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