Ariana DeBose makes history

The 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, March 27. Throughout the night, many things took place, but one in particular was Ariana DeBose’s Oscar win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “West Side Story.” 

The original movie, from 1961, had Rita Moreno playing the role of Anita, which is now played by DeBose in the 2021 film.  DeBose has won many awards for her role of Anita including a BAFTA, Critics Choice Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe, now adding an Academy Award to the mix. 

Ariana DeBose, an Afro Latina who is part of the LQBTQ+ community, made groundbreaking history being the first openly queer woman of color to ever win the award. When taking the stage to accept the award, she gave a very uplifting speech, getting emotional while quoting her character Anita: “For anyone who has ever questioned their identity, there is indeed a place for us.” 

She continued to express her gratitude for the opportunity of playing the role and how she is forever indebted. She even said, “You’re stuck with me now! Yay!” to Steven Spielberg, the famed director responsible for the remake of “West Side Story” and many other films. 

DeBose also dedicated part of her speech to Moreno, saying that her original role of Anita in the 1961 version helped pave the way for her and all the other Anitas that are yet to come. As the night came to an end, it’s safe to say it was a successful event.