Ariana DeBose made history as the first Afro Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar award during Sunday night.

Debose won the best supporting actress award for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s retelling of “West Side Story,” it took 60 years when Rita Moreno grabbed the award for the same role.

Another historic event is the fact that Moreno and DeBose are the first pair of women to win Oscars for playing the same character.

In her speech, DeBose took time to thank Moreno directly, “You are staring at me right now and I’m so grateful. Your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me and I love you so much.”

DeBose opened up themes from the “West Side Story” during her speech. “Now you see why that Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true, and that’s really a heartening thing right now,” she said.

As DeBose delivered her message while Moreno listened intently, where at one point, was seen in tears.

She thanked the people who got her to this moment including her mother, Moreno, and director Spielberg. DeBose then took the opportunity to speak about her identity.

“Lastly, imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus, look into her eyes — you see a queer, openly queer woman of color, an Afro Latina who found her strength in life through art, and that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate," she shared.

DeBose ended the speech by the famous "West Side Story" song, "Somewhere." In the 2021 movie remake, Moreno's character, Valentina (a reimagining of Doc from the original), features the song to imagine a world in which different circles of people coexist harmoniously.

"To anybody who has ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever, or you find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: there is indeed a place for us," DeBose expressed.

Photo By: Variety