At present underway stay from the Pasadena Civic Heart, this 12 months’s NAACP Image Awards is placing a highlight on Altadena residents who’ve skilled devastating loss following the Los Angeles wildfires in early January.
“Properties had been misplaced, shops destroyed, numerous lives shattered and over two dozen souls gone perpetually, however what was not misplaced is the spirit of our group and our resilience, particularly that of our brothers and sisters who stay only a quick distance from right here in Altadena,” presenter Morris Chestnut stated in his tribute.
The traditionally Black neighborhood homes generations of households, and was as soon as dwelling to famend sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler, whose Parable of the Sower has seen renewed recognition given its eerie prescience relating to Southern California’s latest pure catastrophe.
On stage, Chestnut launched 22 Altadena residents who had misplaced their houses, prompting a standing ovation from the group of attendees.
“It’s in instances like these that we present the world our energy,” he continued. “From the second the disaster started, we joined collectively, everybody pitched in, shelter was given, clothes was donated, meals vans got here from miles round to feed the hungry, ministers reached out to feed our want for consolation and non secular therapeutic. And naturally we will’t thank our first responders sufficient for his or her braveness and heroism.”
The Watson star then drew consideration to the BET and CBS program’s charity work: the NAACP, BET Media Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett and Kole (JSSK) partnered with L.A. County, in collaboration with Group Support Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, geared towards defending owners from displacement and preserving the group’s cultural heritage. Providing support for short-term housing, authorized charges and admin prices, the ceremony flashed a QR code on display screen as Chestnut inspired donations.
Ledisi, backed by Adam Blackstone and the BBE All-Star band, carried out a tribute, recent off of her sweeping Tremendous Bowl rendition of the Black Nationwide Anthem earlier this month.
Earlier within the present, host Deon Cole‘s monologue touched on the wildfires, stating that Altadena would construct again higher and stronger, earlier than poking enjoyable at unsubstantiated right-wing finger-pointing of the catastrophe on range, fairness and inclusion.
“I couldn’t imagine they was making an attempt responsible the fires on us, although, like Black individuals, no matter DEI — DEI means Black individuals,” he stated. “However see the one factor they don’t notice is Black individuals don’t mess with fireplace like that, by no means. Nothing fireplace, uh-uh, [Amazon] Fireplace Sticks. Each Black individual I do know bought a Fireplace Stick at dwelling. It’s a man proper now at dwelling seeing the present yesterday that’s occurring proper now stay.”
Along with the tribute, the evening honored Dave Chappelle, former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Wayans household, who had been inducted into the NAACP Awards Corridor of Fame.
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