When you put hundreds of Black women in a room to celebrate their achievements and uplift the millions watching, magic tends to happen. Another successful show is in the books for Black Girls Rock! as the 2016 dynamic presentation premiered Tuesday night on BET with moving performances, funny moments and an overall formation of lifelong bonds.
Host Tracee Ellis Ross did not skip a beat, literally, in her opening monologue.
And her nonstop wardrobe changes? Nothing short of slayage.
@BlackGirlsRock Look #2: #MichaelCostello dress, @Hanut101 earrings, & @LouboutinWorld pumps! #BlackGirlsRock @BET pic.twitter.com/ho2SDy119L
— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) April 6, 2016
@BlackGirlsRock Look #3: @LeahDaGloria dress, #ShaillJhaveri earrings, & @Gianvito_Rossi pumps! #BlackGirlsRock @BET pic.twitter.com/6jB54HRiiD
— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) April 6, 2016
@BlackGirlsRock Look #8: a custom @DuroOlowu dress & @MarniOfficial earrings! Thank u Duro! #BlackGirlsRock @BET pic.twitter.com/xuvS2OmiR9
— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) April 6, 2016
Jazmine Sullivan, Brandy, Marsha Ambrosius, Imani Uzuri, Corrine Bailey Rae, Andra Day, Gladys Knight and Lauryn Hill all brought the house down with musical performances.
Monica Brown shared the stage with her daughter who also rocks.
The night included many appearances and presenters with Iyanla Vanzant, black-ish star Yara Shahidi, Kelly Rowland, and Erykah Badu. Each award recipient delivered heartfelt speeches with not to be forgotten, powerful quotes for every black woman and girl.
Danai Gurira: Star Power award
“Black girl you rock because you have so much potential, because your power and your resilience will heal this world.”
Amandla Stenberg: Young, Black and Gifted award
“My blackness does not inhibit me from being beautiful and intelligent. In fact, it is the reason I am beautiful and intelligent, and you cannot stop me.”
Gladys Knight: Living Legend award
“When you respect yourself, you learn how to respect others.”
Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors(not pictured): Community Change Agent award
“We stand on the shoulders of giants who paved the way for Black dignity.”
Shonda Rhimes: Shot Caller award
“Change the world and when you’ve done that, change it again.”
Rihanna: Rockstar award
“The minute you learn to love yourself, you wouldn’t want to be anybody else.”
Me right now at these speeches on #BlackGirlsRock pic.twitter.com/5s2CavTm91
— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) April 6, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton introduced BGR founder, Beverly Bond.
the collective reaction from everyone 💀 #BlackGirlsRock pic.twitter.com/DXiGtgKtDv
— ChampagnePetty (@__Dutch) April 6, 2016
Addressing her constant criticism, Bond graced the stage bearing a long list of receipts as to why she needs no one’s permission for Black girl affirmation.
“Black girls still have to grow up with pervasive and paradoxical messages that say that our Black is not beautiful, but our features can be bought and sold to enhance the beauty of other women,” Bond said. “When Black girl swag and the black girl’s aesthetic are only dope without the Black girl but skyrocket in value and get put on a pedestal when it’s put on other bodies, our girls internalize that to mean that they are less beautiful.”
Me listening to Beverly Bond’s #blackgirlsrock speech pic.twitter.com/R72wIyNDKV
— J.A.B. (@MsJamilaAisha) April 6, 2016
The night also honored M.A.D. Girls, young innovators making strides to change the world.
M.A.D. girl, @MayasIdeaShop rocks + is changing the world! #BlackGirlsRock #ShareACoke @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/OOh31O6ERE
— BET (@BET) April 6, 2016
M.A.D. girl, @MayasIdeaShop rocks + is changing the world! #BlackGirlsRock #ShareACoke @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/O6OJzupXXv
— BET (@BET) April 6, 2016
M.A.D. girl, @ChefHaileThomas is making being healthy so cool! #BlackGirlsRock #ShareACoke @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/lzigFVcCEQ
— BET (@BET) April 6, 2016
And if you’re still in the dark about the necessity of Black Girls Rock!, then I leave you with this.
Hattie McDaniel at the 1940 Oscars. Do you understand the magnitude of #BlackGirlsRock being televised? pic.twitter.com/gjp3vl8QAD
— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) April 6, 2016
