City’s pilot anti-gentrification plan will target three hot Chicago neighborhoods PAGE 32
PAGE 16 Volume 53, Issue 4
September 25, 2017
ColumbiaChronicle.com
Project invites people to knit blankets for immigrants » AP PHOTO
Making history: Lena Waithe talks her Emmy win
HISTORY WAS MADE as a young, black Chicago native received national recognition for her work writing a television episode that gives voice and representation to both the LGBTQ and black communities. Applause erupted as Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe were announced as the winners of the Emmy for outstanding comedy writing on a television series Sept. 17. The
two hugged before making their way on stage while an announcer proclaimed Waithe the first black woman to win in this category. Waithe, a writer, producer, actress and 2006 Columbia alumna from the former Television Department, and Ansari were given the award for co-writing the episode “Thanksgiving” in the Netflix series “Master of None.” The autobiographical episode portrays Waithe’s character, Denise, throughout a series of Thanksgiving Day dinners as she struggles to express her sexuality to her conservative mother.
Waithe told The Chronicle that she was unconcerned with winning because she was so excited about being included in a list of nominees who’s work she greatly admires. “The history of it all started to sink in that I was the first black woman to ever win that award,” Waithe said. “That sort of took over the room. I was honored to be the recipient, and I think a lot of people in the room felt honored to be in the room when that happened. There was a lot of joy and it was just really amazing.”
SEE EMMYS PAGE 3
» CONNOR CARYNSKI CAMPUS EDITOR