Rihanna knows how to deliver a speech like she knows how to deliver a hit song.
Let’s just put it like that.
The Needed Me singer brought the house down while accepting the president’s award at the 2020 NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] Image Awards last night.
The event took place at The Pasadena Convention Center in California on Saturday and it’s an understatement to say the speech in question was very powerful.
‘Thank you to the staff board and community of the NAACP, including all of you guys here in this room, and everyone at home watching who’s devoted their lives and efforts toward supporting people of colour,’ said Rihanna.
‘Tonight is not really about me. The purpose is bigger than me, right? It’s not bigger than us together, but it’s bigger than me.
‘Because my part is a very small part of the work that’s been done in this world, and the work that is yet to be done.
‘I’m lucky I was able to start the [non-profit organisation] Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012, and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that we can only fix this world together.
‘We can’t do it divided. I cannot emphasise that enough. We can’t let the de-sensitivity seep in.’
Well said, Rihanna.
The Clara Lionel Foundation funds education, emergency preparedness and response programmes around the world.
Rihanna named the organisation after her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.
Giving an example of divisions in society, Rihanna continued: ‘If it’s your problem, then it’s not mine. It’s a woman’s problem. It’s a black people problem. It’s a poor people problem.
‘I mean, how many of us in this room have colleagues and partners and friends from other races, sexes, religions? Show of hands…
‘Well then you know, they want to break bread with you right? They like you. Well then, this is their problem too. So when we’re marching and protesting and posting about the Michael Brown Jrs and the Atatiana Jeffersons of the world, tell your friends to pull up.’
Finishing off, she said: ‘Thank you for celebrating our strength and tenacity. We have been denied opportunities since the beginning of time and still we prevail. So I’m honoured. Imagine what we could do together.’
Other big winners on the night included Lizzo, who bagged entertainer of the year, and Lupita Nyong’o, who was named outstanding actress in a motion picture for Us.
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