Jesse Williams Gave An Incredible Speech On Black Liberation At The BET Awards

“Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.”

June 27, 2016

At Sunday night's BET Awards, actor and advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement, Jesse Williams received the 2016 Humanitarian Award and his words were everything America needed to hear. During his acceptance speech, he took time to dig deep into issues of police killings and racism towards the black community. Williams didn't hold back as he called out oppressors for "gentrifying our genius," and advised all others, "If you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to people that do, sit down."

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The audience cheered him on as he spoke of the upward quest for freedom and shouted out black women for birthing and prioritizing nurturing generations before taking the time to care for themselves. He ended his speech with the poignant line, "Just because we're magic doesn't mean we're not real."

*Drops mic.*

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Jesse Williams Gave An Incredible Speech On Black Liberation At The BET Awards