Beyoncé salutes Black Lives Matter at BET Awards
Beyoncé was among the big winners at the BET Awards, and she dedicated her Humanitarian Award to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The 38-year-old singer won the gong for her coronavirus relief efforts – which included teaming up with her mum Tina Knowles for a mobile testing initiative, and donating to worthy causes to help those affected by COVID-19 – and she used her acceptance speech to praise those who have been “marching and fighting for change”.
In a pre-recorded acceptance speech at the event – which was held virtually, due to the coronavirus pandemic – she said: “I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change.
“Your voices are being heard, and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote.
“I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama had introduced Beyoncé, saying: “Ever since she was a little girl in Houston, Beyoncé KnowlesCarter has been lighting up stages and gracing the world with her talent, with her generosity of spirit, and with her love for her community.
“You can see it in everything she does, from her music that gives voice to black joy and black pain, to her activism that demands justice for black lives. And no matter how big the stages get, I know my girl isn’t satisfied unless she’s sharing all that shine she has with the next generation.”
Beyoncé also triumphed in the BET HER Award category for her song Brown Skin Girl, which features her eight-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter, as well as Wizkid and Saint JHN.
Other big winners included Chris Brown, who won Best Male R&B/ Pop Artiste and Best Collaboration for his tune No Guidance with Drake, who had led nominations with six nods.
Megan Thee Stallion was named Best Female Hip-Hop Artiste, while Lizzo took the Best Female R&B/ Pop Artiste title at the BET Awards, which was hosted by Amanda Seales.
Public Enemy opened the event with their 1989 hip-hop classic Fight the Power, and they added new lyrics to the tune to include mentions of recent events, with the help of Nas, Rapsody, YG, the Roots’ Black Thought and Questlove.