Sheryl Lee Ralph is more than just a veteran in the entertainment industry. She is a history maker whose presence has helped to grow spaces for Black screen actors and actresses since the 1970s.

But until this week she had never garnered an Emmy nomination in a career spanning more than 50 years.

Ralph plays the self-assured and no no-nonsense Barbara Howard in ABC’s Abbott Elementary. The nod for best supporting actress in a comedy series speaks to the influence she has had on teachers, students, and audiences nationwide.