In what can only be considered as a violet dress of dreams, Rihanna had the audience raging in applause after her unifying acceptance speech. Rihanna received the President’s award in the 51st annual NAACP Image award ceremony, celebrating her philanthropic efforts in changing the world.
Known for her revolutionary Fenty Beauty line, the first to provide over 40 shades, and her Fenty Lingerie line with an impressive XXXL size range, Rihanna was honoured for her ‘special achievement and distinguished public service.’
Rihanna was highly praised for her work with the Clara Lionel Foundation, Raising Malawi, and UNICEF, raising millions of dollars for disaster and emergency relief funds. The Clara Lionel Foundation was established in the name of her grandparents to help with world wide emergency relief.
During her moving speech, Rihanna preached the importance of standing together in the fight for a better world.
“I’m lucky I was able to start the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012. And if there’s anything that I’ve learned it’s that we can only fix this world together,” Rihanna said.
“We can’t do it divided. I cannot emphasize that enough. We can’t let the de-sensitivity seep in. The ‘If it’s your problem, then it’s not mine. It’s a woman’s problem; it’s a black people problem; it’s a poor people problem.’”
“How many of us in this room have colleagues and partners and friends from other races, sexes, religions?” she asked. “Well then, you know, they want to break bread with you, right? They like you? Well then, this is their problem too. So when we’re marching and protesting and posting about the Michael Brown Jr.s and the Atatiana Jeffersons of the world, tell your friends to pull up.”
“Imagine what we could do together.”
Oh Rihanna, a true inspiration and intersectional feminist icon.
