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All The History-Making, Black AF Moments From The 2019 Academy Awards

Despite some problematic wins, Black Excellence really owned the night.

It’s been a pretty lousy Black History Month. Between Jussie Smollett’s “hate crime” case, 21 Savage’s potential deportation and Liam Neeson's revealing interviews about his internal racism, February 2019 has been anything but lit.

  • There is some solace though, and it’s coming from one of the most unlikeliest sources – the Academy Awards. From the first award on, the hits came steadily, and until Oscar voters blew it with that Best Picture win, the show was on track to becoming one of the Blackest in history. Well, we won't let one bad decision (two, if you count Spike Lee's nonsensical snub in the Best Director category) take away from a historic night for many. Here are all the greatest and most viral moments from this year's show:

  • Regina King Wins Best Supporting Actress For 'If Beale Street Could Talk'

    First up was Regina King, who took home the award for best supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk. During her speech she acknowledged director James Baldwin before thanking her mother and God for urging her to follow her own path to success.

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  • ruth e. carter and hannah beachler made history by being the first black women to win for costume design and production design, respectively

    Next up was Ruth Carter, who took home the hardware for Best Costume Design for Black Panther, which would be the first in a long string of wins for the Marvel film. Along with Hannah Beachler, who won for production design, she also became the first Black woman to win a non-acting award since 1984.

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  • Hannah Beachler and her beautiful red dress were up next. She took home the Oscar for Best Production Design for Black Panther, becoming the first African-American to both be nominated and win the category.

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  • Mahershala Ali swept awards season with his Best Supporting Actor Win for 'Green Book'

    Minutes later, Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actor for his depiction of pianist Don Shirley in Green Book. It was his latest for the role after taking home awards at Bafta, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild.

  • 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' also won.

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  • SPIKE LEE LIT UP THE STAGE WHEN HE WON BEST SCREENPLAY.

    He was robbed in the Best Director category, but Spike Lee also took home an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman. His speech was a classic Spike Lee joint.

  • Twitter also loved this moment between Samuel L. Jackson and Spike:

  • Oh, and also when Samuel L. Jackson, who presented Spike the award, informed him that the Knicks had won today

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  • Also, this...

    Even though Black Panther or BlacKkKlansman didn't win Best Picture, there were some other moments that put a simile on the faces who did watch the Awards.

  • despite getting snubbed for a nomination, 'Black Panther' director ryan coogler is clearly one of the most influential filmmakers in hollywood. just ask all the folks who thanked him in their speeches:

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  • April Reign, who created #OscarsSoWhite 4 years ago, got to witness the fruits of her activism from the audience

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  • Brian Tyree Henry presenting the award for best costume design was hilarious. He and melissa mccarthy killed it with their own costumes

  • Oh, and this may have really won the night. Glenn Close knew what she wanted and was ready to risk it all

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