Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you, Mr. President for this honor. Look, I won a lot of awards recently, but this one tonight is probably the most special award I've ever gotten because it's from this institution that represents these people, us, people of color, Black people. My godbrother is here tonight, Ben Jealous. Ben used to be the president of the NAACP. And I asked him, I said, "What do think I should say tonight?" And Ben sent me a whole speech. But what was important, he said, 1915, the movie Birth of a Nation came out and had a hideous depiction of African-Americans. And by 1927, the NAACP had opened its first office here in Hollywood. And from then a hundred years ago to this very night, they have been chipping away at this industry so that people like me can stand up in front of people and tell my story or our stories.
(01:15)
Each and every artist in here, every opportunity we get, every time we're on camera, on stage, we just keep chipping away at this monster of a machine. But tonight, man, tonight I feel invigorated because all my Netflix checks cleared. I don't owe anybody any work. Right now every time you see me, just know I'm only up there because I want to be right up there. And I hope all of us who work in this industry feel strong and inspired and not discouraged, especially because this is a very difficult time right now. And your institution is sadly more relevant than it's been in a long time. We got a lot of work to do, but it feels good to know that we're not in it alone and that we got each other.
(02:21)
And remember, community is everything. Shout out to everybody who lost their home or was displaced from their home even for a time. Everybody look, don't ever be afraid to lean on each other. My father taught me a phrase that got me all the way to where I am today. He said, "Whenever you mess up or you feel like you can't get up," he said, "you remember these words because they're magic words." And I said, "What's the words, dad?" And he said, "Whoops." Let's keep it moving, you all. Let's keep it moving. Thank you very much to the NAACP. And one more acknowledgement before I go. In September, 1973, when I was a month old, Stan Lathan, Stan Lathan's, first directing job premiered.
(03:10)
And from that night, for the rest of my life, I've been watching Stan Lathan's work playing, Sanford and Son, All in the Family. You name it. Any place that you would see a Black person on television, Stan Lathan was behind it. Even places where you didn't see Black people, like Sesame Street. And to be able to do all these comedy specials with you, Stan has been one of the honors of my life. You are a national treasure, and you are one of my heroes, and you were a very great shepherd. So thank you to Stan Lathan as well. Shout out to my wife, Elaine. Thank you very much. Shout out to the mighty Robert Glasper, who we make so much great times and memories and music together. And shout out to my God brother, Ben. Thank you very much, NAACP. Good night.