- Thank you guys for that ovation.
We don't stand up here alone.
As we know, it takes a village.
It takes a community.
And we stand up here today as two people who have worked
tirelessly to have resources and access, as two people
willing to use our microphones for what we believe
and what other families are going through.
I'm intentional when I use my platform.
I recognize what I've been given,
and it is my job to uplift the voices of others
and share my access and resources.
I want to take this moment to publicly
speak to our daughter, Zaya.
Zaya, as your father, all I've wanted to do was get it right.
I've sat back and watched how gracefully you've taken
on the public's scrutiny.
And even though it's not easy, I
watched you walk out of that house
every morning as yourself.
I admire how you've handled the ignorance in our world.
I admire it, that you face every day.
To day that your village is proud of
you is an understatement.
Thank you for showing me that there's more than just one way
to communicate effectively.
You've taught me that communication with my mouth
isn't enough.
I have to also communicate with my two ears and my two eyes.
As your father, my job isn't to create a version of myself
or direct your future.
My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes,
your wishes, your dreams.
[applause]
Zaya, you've made me a better human,
just simply by being who you were born to be,
our baby girl, Zaya Wade.
So baby, thank you for showing the world what courage
looks like.
I'm proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father.
And thank you so much to the NAACP
for this incredible honor.
[applause]
- Thank you, Derrick, and the NAACP.
It's-- it's humbling to stand here,
surrounded by friends and heroes, OGs and icons,
all working to advance the lives of Black people and pay
respect to an organization that has led us through over
a century of relentless challenge, pain, triumph,
and change and now stands with us, again,
at the foot of a very new era of activism,
a new era that demands our collective
answer to one simple question.
Will we fight for some or will we
fight for all of our people?
[applause]
Let's just name a couple hard truths.
First, the intersection of Black rights
and the rights of the LGBTQIA, trans
and gender non-conforming people continues to be rough.
That's a huge understatement.
Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs,
we consistently fail to extend our advocacy
to protect some of our most vulnerable among us.
[applause]
And second, Black trans people are
being targeted, terrorized, and hunted in this country
every day, everywhere.
[scattered applause]
And there's rarely a whisper about it.
We honestly don't approach this work as activists or leaders
as much as we do this as parents, parents who
love our children and would do--
will do whatever the hell we can to keep
them seen and secure and safe.
This is a conversation worth having in ways that can
actually build bridges, right?
That don't fan the flames of hatred or division, that don't
enable lawmakers or justice systems
to look the other way when Black trans
people are under attack--
[applause]
--that don't drive more young people
to hate themselves or harm themselves,
that don't cost people their lives.
So we are humbled and we are hopeful for the future.
I am hopeful.
We are hopeful that we may witness a real shift
in the fight for justice, the moment the movement
makes room for everyone, everyone.
Thank you.
[music playing]
[cheering]