BET Awards: Chance the Rapper makes powerful call for social justice
'I had plans originally to try and tell the world and everybody watching how to make it a better place'
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Your support makes all the difference.Chance the Rapper is only 24 but he’s been honoured at the BET Awards for his humanitarian services.
The American rapper was presented the Humanitarian Award by Michelle Obama, via video link, who praised his “passionate efforts.”
The former First Lady said on Sunday night, “Chance is showing our young people that they matter, that they have something inside of them that is worthy of being expressed, and they have so much to contribute to their community and our country."
“I can think of no better legacy to leave, and I am thrilled to celebrate you here to tonight and honoured to call you my friend.”
The 'No Problem' rapper has been a pillar of the community in his home city of Chicago, having actively campaigned against gun violence, to promote racial justice, and even revealed made known his intentions to donate $1million to Chicago Public Schools.
Taking to the stage, Chance gave a powerful speech calling the US government into action. “To be receiving something like this at my age,” the rapper began, “it feels a little early to be getting something like this, but my God doesn’t make mistakes, and I like to think that he’s putting this enormous pressure on me to see how I react."
“And I had plans originally to try and tell the world and everybody watching how to make it a better place. To tell everybody in this government that y’all need to let everybody out of jail for selling weed before you start making it legal for people to sell it and make capital off of it.
He continued: “I want to be more involved outside just my community of Chicago. I want to travel overseas and help out people all over the world. And like I said, being 24 and getting something like this, it doesn’t feel deserved yet. But like I said - my God is putting the pressure on me so I can become who I’m supposed to be.”
Full BET Award Winners List:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Beyoncé
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Bruno Mars
Viewers’ Choice Award: 'Sorry,' Beyoncé
Best Group: Migos
Best Collaboration: 'Bad and Boujee,' Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert/ “No Problem,” Chance the Rapper featuring 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Remy Ma
Video of the Year: 'Sorry,' Beyoncé/ '24k Magic,' Bruno Mars
Video Director of the Year: 'Sorry,' Kahlil Joseph & Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Best New Artist: Chance the Rapper
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Actor: Mahershala Ali
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: Lecrae
Youngstars Award: Yara Shahidi
Best Movie: Hidden Figures
Sportswoman of the Year Award: Serena Williams
Sportsman of the Year Award: Stephen Curry
Centric Award: 'Cranes in the Sky,' Solange
Album of the Year: Lemonade, Beyoncé
Best International Act, Europe: Stormzy
Best International Act, Africa: Wizkid
Humanitarian Award: Chance the Rapper
Lifetime Achievement Award: New Edition
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