Black Girls Rock!
The Queen of Percussion, Sheila E. brought the house down and the audience to their feet with her powerful opening performance on Black Girls Rock! She even kicked over one of the drums to end her set as she welcomed the audience to the broadcast.
Black Girls Rock was hosted by Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross to celebrate Black Girls who stand in 
their own truth and power.
Actress Regina King has been doing some directing lately for shows like Scandal, Tracee is staring on black-ish. They introduced the First Lady Michelle Obama and Living Legend Cicely Tyson in the audience to a standing ovation as they spoke of intelligence, style, and grace.
Janelle Monae was the first presenter and introduced Erykah Badu who was awarded the Rock Star Award. She dedicated the award to her mother, grandmother, great grandmother, godmother and mother nature.
Tatyana Ali was up next and she introduced Kaya Thomas honored as M.A.D. Girls Celebrated by My Black is Beautiful for helping young Black girls find their voice and express their creativity in the world.
The next award winner was Nadia Lopez, Mott Hall Bridges Academy principal. She is growing scholars and believes in her students and they believe in her. She won the Change Agent Award and received a standing ovation. The honor brought her to tears before she reached the stage. She said, “First and foremost I want to thank God.” She also said, “God fashioned each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities. What are you doing with God’s gift? How are you changing the world?” She ended her acceptance speech by thanking her daughter, mother, father, and staff.
Regina and Tracee introduced the performance by Jill Scott who sang her song You Don’t Know. And rapper MC Lyte introduced a performance by Erykah Badu.
Dr. Helene Gayle was the next honoree. Dr. Gayle is President of CARE USA, an organization fighting global poverty. She is considered one of the world’s most trusted public health professionals. Dr. Gayle was presented with the award for Social Humanitarian. She said she was once told, “You have a good brain and a big mouth so use them,” and she said she has tried to do that. She ended her speech by saying, “Thank you for reminding me that when Black Girls Rock stuff happens.”
Tatyana Ali was back to announce another M.A.D. Girls honoree. Chental-Song Bembry, author of the children’s book series called The Honey Bunch Kids.
The next performance was by Ciara singing her hit I Bet.
The final M.A.D. Girl was Gabrielle Jordan, the creator of Jewelz of Jordan.
Regina and Tracee came back out acting like a comic duo performing rap poetry. Their rap was meant to be a joke, but it was really good.
The next honoree was Ava DuVernay, the Director of Selma. She said her love of film brought her to this place in life. She was presented with the Shot Caller Award. She said, “Thank you for this moment.” She pointed out her mother and grandmother in the audience. She told the audience, “You can be a star right where you are.”
Lalah Hathaway was next to perform. She sang Donny Hathaway’s Someday We’ll All Be Free. Faith Evans followed with a performance of Be Free. Then came Fantasia who rocked Baby Don’t You Weep with a full choir. She had the audience on their feet throughout her entire performance.
Debra Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET was next and said Black Girls Rock is more than an awards show, it’s a monumental movement. She congratulated all the trailblazers that received awards during the broadcast.
Debra Lee also introduced Beverly Bond, Founder, and Executive Director or Black Girls Rock, Inc. Beverly said Black Girls Rock is important because young Black girls don’t always get to see diverse representations to emulate. “It’s not an ornamental phrase, it’s a critical affirmation.”
Following her speech, Beverly introduced First Lady Michelle Obama who dazzled in her all-white dress and received a rousing standing ovation. “I am so excited to be here and Black Girls Rock.” “I am so proud of you … my husband, our president is so proud of you.” “I want you to live life on your own terms according to your own script.” “Challenges and failures are necessary components of success … hard times are what shape you into the person you’re meant to be.”
The First Lady also welcomed Kaya Thomas, Chental-Song Bembry, and Gabrielle Jordan to the stage to again honor their M.A.D. Girls achievements.
“One message I want to leave you with tonight is that the secret to everything in life … is education. There is nothing more important than being serious about your education.” “That is how you will go from being Black girls who rock to Black women who rock.”
The next performer was Estelle who sang her song, Conqueror.
Regina and Tracee introduced Will Smith.
Will Smith, the first and only man of the evening enjoyed his position. His presentation was to his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. He made a joke about reading on TMZ that Jada had filed for divorce. She was sleeping next to him at the time, but he said, I wondered for a minute. Did she? “And it made me wonder what would my life be without her.” “I’ve seen all of her work. I held her hand as she gave birth to two beautiful babies.”
Jada received the Star Power Award from her husband as Will said, “Baby come on and get it.”
He gave her a giant kiss as their daughter Willow applauded in the audience.
Jada said, “I want to thank you for this honor while I recognized the power of each and everyone in this room tonight.” “Any achievement that any woman makes is an achievement for us all.” “I want to thank you for allowing me to take this symbol home of what we have done together and what we can do together. And as my little actress Willow says to me, I am you, you are me, we are one.”
Regina and Tracee returned to tell everyone to login to blackgirlsrock.org and give generously.
They then introduced the next honoree, Ms. Cicely Tyson. She said being in the industry was kind of fluke. She said she decided to use her career as a platform.
Ms. Tyson received the Living Legend Award to a standing ovation as she took the stage. She said, “One day at a time sweet Jesus.” “I was told I have three minutes to speak. It took me three minutes to get up here.”
As her voice cracked Ms. Tyson said, “I want to thank this entire audience for all the support you have given me over the years.”
She ended her speech by saying, “One of the things I urge you to do is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And to respect our elders.
Next came a performance by Ms. Cheryl Lynn who sang Got To Be Real. Followed by Alicia Myers singing I Want To Thank You. And they were joined by Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge singing We Are Family.
All the winners took the stage to close the program. It was a beautiful Black Girls Rock broadcast.
Graduations to all the honorees!
Tanya Hart
