BET Awards 2020: A night of Black culture, love, joy, and winning spirit

For 20 years the BET Awards has been celebrating the brightest and most inspiring artists, entertainers, cultural icons and humanitarians and last night, they honoured this year’s winners in the first ever virtual awards.

The BET Awards 2020 was hosted by actress and comedian Amanda Seales who steered the show, which as expected, didn’t veer far from the social justice and Black empowerment theme.

Using an array of innovative techniques, green screens and dynamic artist-generated performances and packages, viewers could still enjoy a rich and immersive show.

“This year I have the honour of winning this prestigious award, but I will always feel like a winner because as long as you’re winning in life, that’s the only trophy you need. So, we’re all winners ladies.”

Highlights of the show were many. Megan Thee Stallion performed her new single Girls In the Hood along with her hit song Savage. The remix of the song featuring Beyoncé became Megan’s highest-charting song, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Flexing their vocal skills were R&B sweetheart Summer Walker and pop icon Usher, who sang their hearts out while performing multiple songs including Session 32 Come Thru / You Make Me Wanna.

The former First Lady Michelle Obama also made an appearance, presenting Beyoncé Knowles-Carter with the Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work.

Accepting the honour, Beyoncé, dedicated her award to activists and protesters around the country.

She said: “I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”

She also urged viewers to continue to fight against systemic racism by voting.

The ceremony was an extraordinary celebration of Black culture, love, joy, and winning spirit, in spite of circumstances; confirmed by Lizzo in her acceptance speech for winning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. She said:

“Three years ago, I sat in the audience at the BET Awards and I didn’t win anything. But I still went home and felt like a winner. Last year I performed on stage and I still didn’t win anything, but I still felt like a winner. This year I have the honour of winning this prestigious award, but I will always feel like a winner because as long as you’re winning in life, that’s the only trophy you need. So, we’re all winners ladies.”