For those who closely follow social justice activists involved in the continuing fight for black equality in the United states, actor Jesse Williams is no stranger.
Jesse Williams was recipient of the 2016 BET Humanitarian Award during last night’s ceremony.
The 34 year-old Grey’s Anatomy star has consistently spoken out on issues affecting African Americans in the media, in rallies and community events where he actively participates alongside the people:
“Now, this award, this is not for me. This is for the real organizers all over the country. The activists, the civil rights attorneys, the struggling parents, the families, the teachers, the students that are realizing that a system built to divide and impoverish and destroy us cannot stand if we do. All right? It’s kind of basic mathematics. The more we learn about who we are and how we got here, the more we will mobilize.”
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Here’s Mr Williams’ full acceptance speech:
“Before we get into it, I just want to say I brought my parents out tonight — I just want to thank them for being here and teaching me to focus on comprehension over career. They made sure I learned what the schools were afraid to teach us.”
Jesse Williams is born of an African American father and a Swedish mother. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
“…And also, thank you to my amazing wife for changing my life.”
Jesse Williams has been married to Aryn Drake-Lee since 2012.
“We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, and we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment, like oil, black gold, ghettoizing and demeaning our creations, then stealing them, gentrifying our genius, and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit. The thing is, though, just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real. Thank you.”
I loved how #JesseWilliams took everyone to task last night: the system, white supremacy, the police, & even Black folk’s loyalty to brands.
— Lamont Lilly (@LamontLilly) June 27, 2016
Im down for a #jessewilliamsappreciationday. The way he loves us black women just reaffirms my love for black men. #JesseWilliams
— Robi Ma (@realtalk_robi) June 27, 2016
“The burden of the brutalized, is not to comfort the bystander.” –#JesseWilliams
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) June 27, 2016
I'm still giving love to #JesseWilliams. Man, that brother is dynamic. He's an excellent orator and has crazy leadership skills.
— Skateboard_V (@MrsDowns) June 27, 2016
Salute to @iJesseWilliams.He got our people encouraged & soarin' high. Most are deep in contemplation &doing self-evaluations #JesseWilliams
— 12thstPI (@BlkGenius1) June 27, 2016
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