Photo courtesy
Last night in Los Angeles, the best and brightest people of color in the film industry, television, music, and literature gathered in honor of the 51st NAACP Image Awards.
Attending the event included Rihanna, Janelle Monáe, Cynthia Erivo, Yara Shahidi, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Scott, and a bunch of others. And while the red carpet fashion was not disappointing, thanks to their beautiful ensembles, Rihanna was honored with the coveted President’s Award for her extraordinary philanthropic efforts across the globe.
And just in case you’re wondering why she deserves the biggest award of the event, the fashion and beauty mogul has raised millions of dollars for disaster relief in the past; she’s also funded education for the needy and raise awareness for issues affecting communities all over the world, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion.
Photo Courtesy For the event, RiRi was outfitted in an ethereal tiered ruffled dress. She looked adorable in the long-sleeve purple ensemble, which was completed with matching drop earrings, red lip, and the perfect makeup. While accepting the award, the 32-year-old was all smiling but the beaming look quickly changed when she took the microphone to give her speech.
Photo courtesy Rihanna opened up her speech, thanking everyone who works and supports the people of color. She proceeded by saying she’d make it simple as the night isn’t about her.
“Tonight is not really about me, because the purpose is bigger than me, right?” she continued. “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 is being done in this world and the work that is yet to be done.”
“I’m lucky I was able to start the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012,” she further stated, referring to the nonprofit organization she launched in her grandmother’s memory.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that we can fix this world together. We can’t do it divided. I can’t emphasize that enough. We can’t let the desensitivity seep in — the ‘If it’s your problem, it’s not mine.’ ‘It’s a woman’s problem.’ ‘It’s a black people problem.’ ‘It’s a poor people problem.’ How many of us in this room have colleagues and partners and friends from other races, sexes, religions? Show of hands? Well then, 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, Jr.s and the Atatiana Jeffersons of the world, tell your friends to pull up.”
In closing her speech, the seized the opportunity to remind the world of unity. “Imagine what we could do together. Thank you for this honor.”
Watch her full speech below:
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