So the BET Music Awards aired last night. The producers of the awards show definitely stepped their game up this year. The BET Awards Show seem to be making a cool comeback and just may be watchable again.

Of course, “Black Twitter” got together and narrated the whole show. We shared many laughs, critiques, confusion, proud “I’m happy to be black” moments and memes as we watched the show together. But overall, BET gave us exactly what we all been waiting for, a glimpse of the way BET used to be. There are a lot of things to discuss in regards to last night’s show, from the red carpet fashion to this year’s hosts, which was Blackish stars Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson. However, we are going to focus in on the Top 3 Moments of the night:


#3 Beyonce & Kendrick Lamar’s Performance

(photo cred: www.billboard.com)

We all know Queen Bey has not made an appearance at the BET Awards Show in a good minute, so it was very surprising to see her open the show. The network didn’t even promote the fact that should would even be there. She performed the song Freedom off her latest project, Lemonade. And we all know, if we don’t expect anything else from Beyonce, we can ALWAYS expect a killer performance. She channeled all the ancestors for this show and gave us spirit, soul, and a powerful message. Kendrick Lamar didn’t disappoint either. It’s not easy being able to stand next to Beyonce and not be overshadowed but he definitely held his own. Coming up out the ground during the set and giving us a great execution of his verse on the track.

It’s impossible to watch the performance and not feel something stir within you.

Check out the performance below just in case you missed greatness:

 









#2 Prince Tribute

(photo cred: vice.com)

After Madonna’s weak Prince Tribute at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, BET promised they would do better and they kept their word. The BET Awards Prince Tribute was pretty epic. Musicians such as the legendary Shelia E., Janelle Monae, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Bilal, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Maxwell... do we need to go on? The tribute was given to us in a series of performances from various artists throughout the night and we are sure Prince was smiling down on all the magic. Words can’t even do the performances justice, so we are just going to let you watch them yourself:

 

#1 Jesse Williams Powerful Speech

 

(photo cred: www.billboard.com)

Yes, the BET Awards gave us a lot of great moments in one night, but the most powerful moment was Jesse Williams’ speech. He served us truth in its rawest form during his acceptance speech. The actor and activist has been pretty vocal about the current issues we face in America dealing with racial matters and injustice, but his words during the awards show was probably the most potent. Everyone was completely blown away. There were so many quotables and truths we can take from Jesse Williams’ speech.

“The more we learn about who we are and how we got here, the more we will mobilize.”

“Now, this is also in particular for the black women, in particular, who have spent their lifetimes dedicated to nurturing everyone before themselves. We can, and will, do better for you.”

“We’re going to have equal rights and justice in our country, or we will restructure their function, and ours.”

“The thing is, though. All of us in here getting money? That alone isn’t gonna stop this. Dedicating our lives—dedicating our lives to getting money just to give it right back, for someone’s brand on our body. When we spent centuries praying with brands on our bodies. And now we pray to get paid for brands on our bodies.”

“Freedom is somehow always conditional here. You’re free, they keep telling us. But she would have been alive if she hadn’t acted so… free. Freedom is always coming in the hereafter. But you know what, though? The hereafter is a hustle. We want it now.”

 

“If you have a critique for the resistance—for our resistance—then you’d better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest… If you have no interest in equal rights for black people, then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.”

 

“Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real. Thank you.”

And ofcourse we had to make a shirt for this amazing occasion.

 

 

So many gems in Jesse Williams’ speech! Check out the full speech below:

 

Thank You BET you did well. The BET Awards Show was a success

-written by Chandra Meadows for POP ATL