Jamaican-American actress Sheryl Lee Ralph delivered what many are describing as the best acceptance speech in Emmy Awards history. It took place during Monday night’s 74th staging of the annual event.

The ceremony — which was held at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles — saw Ralph winning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series for her role as a 30-year veteran elementary school teacher in the ABC ‘mockumentary’ sitcom, Abbott Elementary.

Ralph is the first black woman to win in that category in 35 years.

Stunned, she burst into a few lines from jazz singer Diane Reeves’ 1993 song Endangered Species, before delivering her speech.

“To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true, I am here to tell you what believing looks like,” said Ralph.

“This is what striving looks like and don’t you ever, ever give up on you. If you get a husband like mine in your corner, if you get children like mine in my corner, and if you got friends like everybody who voted for me, cheered for me, loved me. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she continued.

Ralph was born in Connecticut to an American father and Jamaican mother, fashion designer Ivy Ralph. She grew up between Mandeville and Long Island, New York.

She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy A Piece of The Action, starring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. But it was her breakthrough role as Deena James in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls in 1981, that brought her acclaim, as that role earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in A Musical.

Ralph’s other film credits include The Mighty Quinn opposite Denzel Washington which was partly shot in Jamaica; The Distinguished Gentlemen; Sister Act 2: Back in The Habit; and To Sleep With Anger.

She starred in several television comedies including It’s A Living (1986-1989), Instant Mom and as Dee Mitchell, singer Brandy’s stepmother in the UPN series, Moesha.