

- At Sunday's BET Awards, Beyoncé was awarded the Humanitarian Award, for her work through her BeyGOOD charity initiative.
- In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to protestors "marching and fighting for change."
- Beyoncé also urged voters to "continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system," adding, "We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does."
Beyoncé received the Humanitarian Award at Sunday night's BET Awards, which were held virtually as the coronavirus pandemic continues. She was recognized for her work through her charity initiative, BeyGOOD; most recently, she worked with her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, to ensure Black communities in her hometown, Houston, had access to COVID-19 testing.
In her moving acceptance speech, Beyoncé dedicated the award to Black Lives Matter protestors, as the Guardian reports, saying, "Your voices are being heard, and you're proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain."
Beyoncé went on to urge viewers to vote in the ongoing primary elections, saying, "There are people banking on us staying at home during the local elections and primaries happening in states across the country." She continued, "We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does."
Michelle Obama presented Beyoncé with the Humanitarian Award, applauding her "generosity of spirit and "love for her community," as Entertainment Tonight reports. "You can see it in everything she does, from her music that give a voice to Black joy and Black pain, to her activism that demands justice for Black lives," Obama said.
Black Lives Matter
Read Beyoncé's full BET Awards acceptance speech below:
Thank you so much for this beautiful honor. 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're proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.
Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote. I'm 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 the local elections and primaries happening in 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.
Thank you everyone who took the time to speak in that beautiful presentation, and thank you, BET, for this honor. It means so much to me, especially coming from y’all. I love you deep. God bless you, and good night.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.
-
Miley Cyrus, Millennial, Shows Side Parts Can Still Be Cool With Hair Transformation
No! Beauty! Rules!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry's Ex Chelsy Davy Just Got Married, Reportedly
She and Sam Cutmore-Scott share baby son Leo.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry Is Worried About Archie and Lili Experiencing the "Online Harm" That Is Currently "Normalized"
He says the internet needs to change dramatically.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
By Bianca Rodriguez
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
By The Editors
-
Surprise! Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Are Parents
They welcomed a baby via surrogate.
By Neha Prakash
-
Meghan and Harry Share First Photo of Their Daughter Lilibet Diana
The Sussex's holiday card is here!
By Rachel Epstein
-
The 50 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes Ever
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton
-
Alicia Keys Gets What She Wants
With her jazzy new album, Keys, the singer stopped worrying about everything except what matters: Her own opinion.
By Jessica Herndon
-
Brooke Shields on Reinventing Yourself, Making Friends in Your 40s, and More
The actress and CEO shared inspiring advice during a panel at 'Marie Claire's' "Power Trip: Off the Grid" conference.
By Rachel Epstein
-
Alicia Keys on Her Upcoming Album 'Keys,' Life Lessons From Her Mom, and More
The singer opened up during a special panel at 'Marie Claire's' "Power Trip: Off the Grid" conference.
By Rachel Epstein