Sterling K. Brown made history last night by becoming the first black actor to win the TV lead actor drama category. The win followed his Emmy win last fall, both for playing Randall Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us.

He spoke about his character’s experience as a black person adopted into a white family: “He’s a fish out of water and two individuals who love him and appreciate him take him into their lives even though he doesn’t look like they do. He’s trying to find his way in the world. Growing up, my mother always told me I’d have to work twice as hard; that the world wasn’t going to react and respond in the way of my white counterparts. When those kids were making trouble, she said I wouldn’t have the same kind of latitude as them if I got in trouble. The repercussions would be different.”