Black Girls Rock! 2019
The Black Girls Rock! Awards on BET hosted by my girl Niecy Nash opened with Robin S performing her red hot hit Show Me
Niecy Nash took the stage after that amazing open. “Welcome to Black Girls Rock!” She thanked all the ladies who just performed. “I am so honored to be with you tonight because Black Girls are really doing it this year.”
“Simone Biles flipped her way into history, more Black women have been elected into office, and Jada Pinkett Smith sat down at the Red Table and became our Black girl therapist.”
She plugged her show Claws, getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and hanging out with Oprah. “It’s going to be Oprah and Niecy.”
She announced all the ladies in the audience that were honored during the broadcast, she asked Angela Bassett, “How do you still look the same as you did when Stella Got Her Groove Back.”
Niecy said she will change her clothes during the program at least 37 times with wigs to match, and she started right away by snatching her wig off.
Supermodel Winney Hollow introduced the evening’s first honoree, Ciara. Ciara received this year’s Rock Star award. Ciara came to the stage to get her award from Winney and ended her speech by thanking her fans for their support and saying, “No one can close the door that God has opened for you.”
Brandy introduced honoree Debra Martin Chase. She is this year’s Black Girls Rock! Shot Caller. Debra Martin Chase is a motion picture and television producer. Her company, Martin Chase Productions is affiliated with Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Television Group. She also worked at Disney for twenty years during her thirty-year career.
Debra took the stage and said it could not be more perfect than getting this awarded from Brandy. She has known her since she was fifteen. She said in this industry she would open the door, hold her foot there, and let other Black women through and then knock the door down. She ended by thanking Beverly Bond for creating Black Girls Rock! and thanked all the other honorees because they are all so deserving.
Ari Lennox performed her hits Shea Butter Baby and BMO, and Niecy introduced India Arie’s performance of Steady Love.
M.A.D. Girls honoree Chanice Lee was the first young award winner of the evening. She is an author and blogger writing from a Black teen’s perspective. She’s a Black Girl That Rocks!
Niecy brought Kiana Lede to the stage. She performed Heavy.
The next M.A.D. Girls honoree was Mari Copeny. A young activist who wrote a letter to
Issa Rae introduced H.E.R. who was honored with the Young Gifted and Black Award. “I am really excited to be here with all these beautiful Black women!” “We can be whoever we want to be because we have the power to write our own narratives, our own stories.”
Tiffany N. Davis is a rocket scientist. Seriously. She was another young honoree for the evening.
Monica performed next. She sang her latest, Commitment as women marched out of the audience and circled her on stage holding protest signs wanting commitment.
Black Girls Rock! creator Beverly Bond introduced herself to cheers and applause, “And I am a Black Girl Who Rocks!” She created the Black Girls Rock movement so that Black women could regain their power.
Beverly also introduced director, producer, actress Regina King to honor with the Star Power Award because she is definitely a Black Girl Who Rocks!
Regina said, “This platform that she has created to shine a light on us is so needed.” “It is my season for grace and favor.” She thanked her mother, grandmother, sister and a long list of names, and ended her acceptance speech with, “I am Regina King and I am a Black Girl That Rocks!”
The life of Toni Morrison was also honored. Elle Varner performed Number One Song, and Lil Mama introduced Winter BreeAnne the next M.A.D. Girls honoree. A voting activist honored for making a difference and a Black Girl Who Rocks!
Moms of murdered children were also honored as well as Black Lives Matters. Eric Garner’s mother, Trayvon Martin’s mother, Jordan Davis’ mother all spoke about their fight for the lives of their sons. They asked the world to join in and save lives.
The mothers all came to the stage and were presented with the Community Change Agent Award. They thanked Beverly Bond and BET for the honor. “We need to stand up for justice. We need to stand up for truth. Thank you.”
Regina King returned to present the Icon Award to Angela Bassett. “My sister Angela Bassett is the epitome of a boss and the founding member of Black Don’t Crack.”
Regina continued, “You devour every role you play. Angela, you‘re the Queen Mother of Wakanda. The audience went crazy when Angela Bassett took the stage and said, “It hasn’t always been easy and there were days when the phone didn’t ring even after What’s Love Got to Do With It.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity and the space to be a Black Girl Who Rocks!”
“When they say send her back home you tell them I am home. I am the foundation of what we call home.” “We are all Black Girls Who Rock! Thank you for honoring me tonight. If God’s before you who shall be against you.”
Common and William Murphy followed Angela’s fierce spe
Nicey Nash closed the show and thanked Beverly Bond, BET and all the women of the evening.
Congratulations to all of the honorees and another great Black Girls Rock! program.
Tanya Hart
Follow me on Twitter and on AURN.COM Hollywood Live With Tanya Hart
