Angela Bassett Receives the 2019 ICON Award at the BGR … — Transcript

[Applause] Y'all remember this, with the flick of the cigarette? [Applause] She inspired generations of female empowerment. When you see that gift, you know it's going down.

prisoners and knowing no bounds angela you're the queen mother of wakanda and you're our queen in real life this year's recipient of the black girls rock icon award the incomparable angela bassett hey sisters you good you look good you look good you look

Okay, Angela Bassett, my sister, you devour every role you play, taking no prisoners and knowing no bounds. Angela, you're the queen mother of Wakanda, and you're our queen in real life.

i'm often asked in interviews if my portraying smart strong women throughout my career has been on purpose and thinking about what to say to you tonight the word purpose and what it means has filled my spirit we all

This year's recipient of the Black Girls Rock Icon Award, the incomparable Angela Bassett.

survival figured into the equation but not so much that i was ever willing to compromise my integrity it hasn't always been easy and there have been tough times days when the phone didn't ring even after what's love got to do with it

Hey sisters, you good? You look good. You look good. You look like a letter from home. I always look forward to watching the Black Girls Rock Awards. It's such a special night of tribute and recognition of us, so it means so much for me to be here with you tonight.

soul for the courage and the fortitude to keep going and to never to never forget that despite life's detours you are destined for greatness my purpose tonight is to say thank you thank you to my beautiful family to my

I'm often asked in interviews if my portraying smart, strong women throughout my career has been on purpose. And thinking about what to say to you tonight, the word purpose and what it means has filled my spirit. We all have purpose, even if we're still striving to understand what that is.

this momentous annual celebration it's imperative that we continue to support events that lift us up that recognize our contributions and that help us feel a connectivity allowing us to see one another even when we sometimes can't see ourselves

When I decided as a teenager that acting would be my path, whether I recognized it or not, I was walking towards my purpose. As a young actress trying to make my way, survival figured into the equation, but not so much that I was ever willing to compromise my integrity.

shabazz katherine jackson thank you voletto wallace i say their names because when you show gratitude you're able to remember that you didn't arrive in this place on your journey by yourself oh you had help you had support you had guidance

It hasn't always been easy, and there have been tough times, days when the phone didn't ring, even after What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as moments of uncertainty and of doubt. But what women like my mother Betty Jane and my aunt Golden taught me is that there will be times when you seemingly face insurmountable obstacles, but that's when you dig deep into your soul for the courage and the fortitude to keep going and to never, to never forget that despite life's detours, you are destined for greatness.

tell them i am home i am the foundation of what we call home they tell you that you're angry or nasty you tell them that they're mistaken this is me this is me being resolute and standing firmly in my truth

My purpose tonight is to say thank you. Thank you to my beautiful family, to my husband Courtney, to my children Bronwyn and Slater for giving me the opportunity and the space to be a Black girl who rocks.

knowing that we were present for one another tonight freedom fighter serger truth is one of my personal heroes so i've chosen to close my time here with you tonight with her words if the first woman god ever made was

Thank you to BET and to Beverly Bond and to everyone who works so hard to bring us together for this momentous annual celebration. It's imperative that we continue to support events that lift us up, that recognize our contributions, and that help us feel a connectivity, allowing us to see one another even when we sometimes can't see ourselves.

and all of us collectively it does matter now is not the time to be silent find your purpose pursue it relentlessly passionately and loudly be persistent and win i love you we are all black girls who rock thank you again for honoring me tonight

I accept this award in the names of the iconic women who have inhabited me, who have empowered me, inspired me, strengthened me, and elevated me. Thank you, Rosa Parks. Thank you, Tina Turner. Thank you, Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, Katherine Jackson. Thank you, Voletta Wallace.