The 'Joyful Noise' actress delivers a powerful monologue to kick off the NAACP Awards and the 'Color Purple' star echoes the host's sentiment when accepting her gong later.
- March 17, 2024
AceShowbiz - At the 2024 NAACP Image Awards, Queen Latifah, the show's host, delivered a powerful opening monologue that addressed both the struggles Americans are facing and the underrepresentation of Black actresses in Hollywood.
During her remarks, Latifah urged Black actresses to stand up and demand equal pay, prompting a thunderous applause from the audience. She then addressed the entire room, "Everybody else in this hall room stand up for all of us Black actresses who have been representing for us. Support us. Join us."
Taraji P. Henson, who later won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, echoed Latifah's sentiment in her acceptance speech. She thanked those who supported her after she initially spoke out about pay inequality in Hollywood during the press tour for "The Color Purple".
Additionally, Latifah received a message from Vice President Kamala Harris at the start of the awards ceremony, reminding her to encourage viewers to vote in the upcoming election. "It's no secret we are facing some seriously pivotal issues," Latifah said in her monologue. "Everyone is talking about inflation. You know what's not feeling inflation? Equal pay for Black actresses."
Henson's speech emphasized the importance of speaking up for one's truth. "I just want to thank you guys so much for showing up for me all the time," she said. "It's a scary thing to speak your truth but I urge you all to speak your truth because at the end of the day that's all we have."
