Friday, March 29, 2024

The 51st NAACP Image Awards Underscores a Movement

*The internet can’t stop sharing Rihanna’s powerful call for unity during her acceptance speech at the 51st NAACP Image Awards ceremony Saturday night for the honorable President’s Award.

“Tonight is not really about me—the purpose is bigger than me, right?” Rihanna said at the start of her speech.

‘Bigger than me,’ seemingly suggesting there’s a shared responsibility in a movement where unheard voices, and untold stories, are coming to the surface.

She goes on in her speech to ask people in the audience who have colleagues, partners and friends from other races, genders and religions, who they know and love them to raise their hand. After a few moments of silence around the room, and hands being raised, she says …

“They want to break bread with you, right? They like you. Well then, this is their problem too,” said the pop star and philanthropist.  

That feeling, Rihanna expressed in her speech, of black voices, women and others being on the brink of a movement much bigger than herself, was shared by many others gracing the red carpet that evening.

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Lyric Ross - 2020 image awards
Lyric Ross, from This is Us, at the 51st NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet

“Everyone feels it,” said Lyric Ross, who was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards this year. “It’s exciting, and not a lot of people know what is to come, but we know that it’s good.”

In this past year, we’ve seen films and shows dealing directly with the black community, told by the black community. Stories like Lena Waithe’s Queen and Slim, Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talks and Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us, all snagging a nomination at this year’s awards.

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Caleel Harris - 2020 image awards
Caleel Harris, from When They See Us, at the 51st NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet

“I’m honored to be here,” said Caleel Harris, who plays Antron McCray in the DuVernay’s miniseries When They See Us. 

“To allow me to be apart of history really, it really is a dream project to be able to tell our own stories,” said the young star.

And having those stories acknowledged by her peers and culture, makes this year’s award ceremony all the more special for someone like Ross.

“It’s by my people, to be noticed, to be acknowledged by my people, that says it all, I’ve already won [in my mind],” she said.


H.E.R. was also spotted on the 51st NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet

 

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