Dawn-Lyen Gardner Instagram – It is such a deep honor – especially on the cusp Black History Month and Women’s History Month – to have been nominated for an NAACP Image Award alongside such brilliant Black women. My sister, @rutina_wesley. The @queenlatifah, @octaviaspencer, and @im.angelabassett – whose win I cheer and who remains one of my craft and passion sheroes. You all give me and so many other Black women permission to thrive in this industry, and I thank you for it. And congrats to the entire QS village, seen and unseen, for its recognition as Outstanding Drama Series. So many have poured their hearts into the show over these years, and it is a blessing to see all of that work acknowledged. [swipe for my complete thoughts on the moment we’re in & what it requires of us] My deep gratitude to the NAACP for the honor of being nominated includes the recognition of their extraordinary legacy of both fighting for and protecting our voting rights and our elections. The NAACP has always been on the front lines of voter protection advocacy because they know to be true what Thurgood Marshall said so many years ago: “We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and mistrust…We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.” May we move forward in this election year with the courage and conviction to continue the fight to protect our rights, and may the current world events give us even more reason to be a stand for ourselves, each other, and the more just world we believe is possible. Dress: @mantu_castor Jewelry: @castjewelry Stylist: @jessica_margolis