Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has honoured singer Beyoncé with the Humanitarian Award at the 2020 BET Awards which virtually held on Sunday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
During the announcement, Obama noted that Beyoncé’s talent is matched by her philanthropy.
She said;
Ever since she was a little girl in Houston, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter 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 is not satisfied unless she’s sharing all that shine she has with the next generation.
The R&B icon was recognized for her tremendous charitable efforts over the years, especially for her work with BeyGood, a charity initiative which aims to empower young women, and has sponsored several initiatives since 2019.
In addition, she has partnered with UNICEF to create “BeyGood 4 Burundi,” a clean water initiative in East Africa.
She also launched the #IDIDMYPART initiative, along with her mother Tina Knowles, to encourage Houston residents to get tested for coronavirus.
Beyoncé in her short but powerful speech 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 are proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to to walk in our true power, and that is to vote. I am 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, continue to fight for each other and lift each other up because there are people banking on us staying at home during local elections and primaries happening the States across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does. So please continue to be the change you want to see.
Queen Bey as she is fondly called was nominated for several BET Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Female R&B Artist/Pop Artist.
She was also nominated alongside the youngest nominee of the night, her 8-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter and Wizkid for their contribution to “Brown Skin Girl,” earning then the BET Her award.
Watch video of her speech below;
