Gabrielle Union Delivers Powerful Speech At Essence’s Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon
Gabrielle Union Speaking The Truth About Women In Hollywood!
A few weeks ago, Gabrielle Union was one of the many powerful women who attended Essence’s Black Women In Hollywood luncheon. Dressed in vintage Versace, she hit the stage to accept the fierce and fearless award, but it was her honesty and raw truth about Hollywood, her past insecurities and the need for fellow black actresses to stick together that became the highlight of the night.
Before, we featured an excerpt, however, here is the full speech below:
We live in a town that rewards pretending. I had been pretending to be fierce and fearless for a very long time. I was a victim masquerading as a survivor. I stayed when I should have run. I was quiet when I should have spoken up. I turned a blind eye to injustice instead of having the courage to stand up for what’s right. I used to shrink in the presence of other dope beautiful women. I used to revel in gossip and rumors, and I lived for the negativity inflicted upon my sister actresses or anyone who I felt whose shine diminished my own.
It’s easy to pretend ‘to be fierce and fearless because living your truth takes real courage. Real fearless and fierce women admit mistakes and they work to correct them. We stand up and we use our voices for things other than self promotion. We don’t stand by and let racism and sexism and homophobia run rapid on our watch. Real fearless and fierce women complement other women and we recognize and embrace that their shine in no way diminishes our light and that it actually makes our light shine brighter.
So many of us in this room are sisters. We don’t always get to see each other and its good to see you here today. Women who we’ve laughed with, cried with, and struggled with, thank you for not turning your back on me, thank you for not tap dancing on my misery, even when I wasn’t always returning the favor.
Phenomenal!
In an intimate sit down with Essence, when asked what does it mean to be a black woman in Hollywood, she responded:
It depends on the day. Today, it’s about celebration, sisterhood and togetherness and lifting each other up. Tomorrow, when we are all back fighting for the same job, I hope we take some of this spirit into the room with us. When the light is shining on one, it really just makes the light shine brighter on all of us.
You can watch her speech in the video player on Essence‘s website.
Via:NecoleBitchie.com
