Meet the First Muslim Actor to Win an Oscar

Mahershala Ali made history at last night’s Oscars, becoming the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award.

Ali, a first time nominee, played a drug dealer who mentors a young boy who is being teased and bullied for being gay in the heartbreaking coming of age tale. This year has been Ali’s year as he also starred in the Netflix series Luke Cage and played the big villain Cottonmouth, as well as having a role in another Oscar-nominated film, Hidden Figures.

“My grandma would want me to button up,” he said, after taking the stage, buttoning up his jacket. “I want to thank my teachers, my professors, my so many wonderful teachers.” He went on to talk about what they taught him and realizing that this moment wasn’t about him. “It’s not about you. It’s about these characters. You are a servant. You’re in service to these stories and these characters and I’m so blessed to have had an opportunity. It was about Juan, it was about Paula. Cast and crew, such a wonderful experience.”

The milestone comes after President Donald Trump imposed a ban denying travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries entry into the US. While Ali did not bring this up during his speech whatsoever, after he won a SAG Award earlier this year, he proudly declared, “I’m a Muslim.”

WE SAID THIS: We here at Scoop Empire are sending out so much love to Mahershala Ali and could not be more proud of him. And yes, we’re definitely rewatching Moonlight after work tonight.