Queen Latifah hosted the Black Girls Rock! 2018 broadcast recorded at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Fantasia opened the program in honor of Aretha Franklin and sang Chain of Fools and Respect in full Fantasia style. She went into the audience and had everyone on their feet.
Queen Latifah followed and welcomed the audience to Black Girls Rock! 2018. “Tonight, we celebrate our queens.”
She mentioned everyone who was honored during the program and then introduced Ava DuVernay who honored Lena Waithe, actress, producer, screenwriter and co-writing of the Netflix series Master of None.
Lena Waithe was honored with the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Shot Caller Award.
She spoke about cutting off her hair and how she was holding onto it because it was feminine and made people feel comfortable, but she said she had to let it go to be true to herself rather than worry about what others think.
She ended her acceptance speech with, “I want to thank you all for reminding folks that gay girls rock too.”
Queen Latifah followed to honor Naomi Campbell, supermodel, actress, and singer. Naomi Campbell came to the stage to a standing ovation.
Naomi Campbell received the Black Girl Magic Award 2018.
“It’s wonderful to see all the progress and all the Black voices heard in our society today.”
“We’ve got to make sure that all Black girls are empowered.”
Naomi ended her acceptance speech with, “We are not a trend. We are here to stay and let’s keep going.”
Merle Dandridge honored civil rights activist from the Bronx and founder of the #Me Too Movement, Tarana Burke.
Tarana Burke received the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Community Change Agency Award.
“Black women are magic, and we rock mostly because we are resilient.”
“No one can take what was meant for us. I can be used by everybody and still be ours.”
“This is your movement too.”
H.E.R. performed Make It Rain and Tamia performed So Into You and Leave It Smokin.
Phylicia Rashad honored Mary J. Blige, singer, songwriter, rapper and actress.
Mary J. Blige received the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Star Power Award.
Phylicia thanked Mary for being a gift through her art and it brought Mary to tears in the audience before she made it to the stage to hug Phylicia and accept the award. The audience gave her a long standing ovation.
“Black Girls Rock! We just do”
There’s nothing that you can throw at us that we can’t get through.”
It’s taken me a while to realize that I rock, to get here to stand here, but now that I’m here I know I’ve been rocking for years”
“As a Black woman, it’s just so hard for us out there … it means so much to me to see Black girls rocking together.”
She thanked Beverly Bonds and BET for the honor as she ended her acceptance speech.
Queen Latifah introduced Misty Copeland to honor Judith Jamison, dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Jacqueline Green of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater’s and Yolanda Adams performed in her honor.
Judith Jamison received the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Living Legend Award.
She thanked Beverly Bond and BET for, “this wonderful, wonderful award.”
“We’ve been doing this for 60 years. We’ve been touching people around the world.”
“You called me a legend? Is that what it says? The legend had to do her laundry this morning.”
Ms. Jamison received a very long standing ovation as she left the stage.
Victory performed Open Your Eyes.
Ciara came to the stage to honor Janet Jackson, actress, singer, songwriter, and dancer.
Janet Jackson received the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Rock Star Award.
Janet came to the stage quickly, but the audience chanted her name for a while.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“We have a long and beautiful tradition of rockers and I’m so proud to be part of that tradition.”
“Yeah, we rock!”
“Black Girls Rock now more than ever and girl all I can say is rock-on.”
Michelle Obama recorded a message to encouraged us all to vote and to spread the message that women of color know how to get things done and go to www.whenweallvote.org to register to vote.
Beverly Bond took the stage next and said, “I’m Beverly Bond and I’m a Black girl who rocks!”
She expanded on the talents and virtues of all the evening’s honorees.
“We cannot wait for others to tell our truths or crown our queens.”
Beverly introduced the tribute to Aretha Franklin, “Now let’s pay proper respect to our queen.”
Jazmine Sullivan began with I Never Loved A Man [The Way I Love You]
Ledisi sang Aint No Way.
Cynthia Ervio sang I Say a Little Prayer.
Stephanie Mills sang Until You Come Back To Me and Still Waters Run Deep.
Yolanda Adams sang How I Got Over.
The ladies performed a grand tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Queen Latifah signed off the Black Girls Rock! 2018 broadcast as the ladies sang Natural Woman.
Congratulations to all the Black Girls Rock! 2018 honorees, Beverly Bond, BET, and a great program.
Tanya Hart
Follow me on Twitter at @TanyaHollywood