src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fZiyZ2rDdv8"
frameborder="0"
allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"
allowfullscreen
></iframe>
<p>
"Tonight is not really about me — because the purpose is bigger than me,
right?" Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, said beginning
her speech. "It's not bigger than us together, but it's bigger than me.
'Cause my part is a very small part of the work that is being done in
this world and the work that is yet to be done."
</p>
<p>
The President's Award is given in "recognition of a special achievement
and distinguished public service," according to the NAACP Image
Award's <a
href="https://naacpimageawards.net/press/rihanna-named-presidents-award-recipient-for-51st-naacp-image-awards/"
target="_blank"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>website</a
>. Rihanna founded the
<a
href="https://claralionelfoundation.org/"
target="_blank"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>Clara Lionel Foundation</a
>
in 2012 in honor of her grandparents. The nonprofit champions and funds
education and emergency response programs worldwide, according to its
website.
</p>
<div
class="content-recirculation__wrapper content-recirculation--type-collection"
>
<figure class="content-recirculation">
<h4 class="content-recirculation__headline">
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/awards-season/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>Awards Season</a
>
›
</h4>
<ul>
<li
class="recirc_item"
id="recirc_item_c4353a31-c3ed-40d5-a3de-c601ab965467"
>
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rihanna-naacp-rihanna-delivers-powerful-acceptance-speech-at-naacp-image-awards-presidents-award/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
Rihanna delivers powerful speech at NAACP Image Awards
</a>
</li>
<li
class="recirc_item"
id="recirc_item_772ffa00-dc6d-4773-94a2-74f896465406"
>
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscars-2020-parasite-makes-history-as-first-foreign-film-to-win-best-picture-academy-award-today-2020-02-09/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
"Parasite" is first foreign film to win best picture Oscar
</a>
</li>
<li
class="recirc_item"
id="recirc_item_c2a2f83d-9265-4814-a311-c3f86bc0beec"
>
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/natalie-portman-oscar-outfit-honors-snubbed-female-directors-2020-02-09/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
Natalie Portman's Oscar outfit honors snubbed female directors
</a>
</li>
<li
class="recirc_item"
id="recirc_item_a207c0a6-da87-49fc-80d9-5efad07fbc69"
>
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/oscars-2020-red-carpet-arrivals/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
Oscars 2020: Red carpet arrivals at the Academy Awards
</a>
</li>
<li
class="recirc_item"
id="recirc_item_d75fddc7-fd73-44bb-ad48-8c80a6e674b4"
>
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/oscars-2020-academy-awards-performances-winners-live-updating-2020-02-09/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
2020 Oscars: "Parasite" wins Best Picture
</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="content-recirculation__more">
<a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/awards-season/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>
More in Awards Season
</a>
</p>
</figure>
</div>
<p>
"If there's anything that I've learned, it's that we can only fix this
world together. We can't do it divided," the star continued. "We can't
let the de-sensitivity seep in. The, 'If it's your problem, then it's
not mine. Its a woman's problem, it's a black people problem, it's a
poor people problem.'"
</p>
<p>
The 32-year-old singer then posed a question — asking for a show of
hands from the audience.
</p>
<p>
"How many of us in this room have colleagues and partners and friends
from other races, genderes, religions?" she asked. "Well then, you know,
they want to break bread with you, right? They like you? Well then, this
is their problem too. So when we're marching and protesting and posting
about the
<span class="link"
><a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-brown-called-a-little-kid-in-a-big-body-ahead-of-funeral/"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>Michael Brown Jr</a
></span
>.s and the
<span class="link"
><a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atatiana-jefferson-funeral-today-woman-fatally-shot-by-dallas-fort-worth-police-officer-aaron-dean-2019-10-24/"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>Atatiana Jefferson</a
></span
>s of the world, tell your friends to pull up."
</p>
<p>
She concluded the powerful speech by thanking the NAACP and telling
viewers to "imagine what we could do together."
</p>
<figure
class="embed embed--type-youtube-video embed--float-none embed--size-medium embed--type-video"
>
<div class="embed__content-wrapper"></div>
<figcaption>
<span class="embed__caption">
<cite
><a href="https://youtu.be/fZiyZ2rDdv8" rel="nofollow noopener"
>Rihanna Says Tell Your Friends Of Other Races To "Pull Up" For
Black Issues | NAACP Image Awards</a
></cite
>
by
<cite
><a
href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BETNetworks"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>BETNetworks</a
></cite
>
on
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"
>YouTube</a
>
</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
Her speech garnered praise from many fans online after it aired on
Saturday, including fellow celebrities.
<a
href="https://twitter.com/TraceeEllisRoss/status/1231641202576871425"
target="_blank"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>Tracee Ellis Ross</a
>
tweeted, "I love this woman. Thank you for all you do @rihanna.
Congratulations on a much deserved award."
</p>
<figure
class="embed embed--type-twitter-tweet embed--float-none embed--size-small lazyloaded"
data-require="third-party/twitter-widgets"
>
<div class="embed__content-wrapper">
<twitter-widget
class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"
id="twitter-widget-0"
style="position: static; visibility: visible; display: block; transform: rotate(0deg); max-width: 100%; width: 500px; min-width: 220px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"
data-tweet-id="1231641202576871425"
></twitter-widget>
</div>
</figure>
<p>
"'Tell your friends to pull up...' That part!! @rihanna is really bout
that life. She is a real one. A. REAL. ONE." tweeted
<a
href="https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/status/1231704026842062848"
target="_blank"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>Gabrielle Union</a
>.
</p>
<p>
It was announced that Rihanna would be honored with the special award on
<a
href="https://naacpimageawards.net/press/rihanna-named-presidents-award-recipient-for-51st-naacp-image-awards/"
target="_blank"
rel="nofollow noopener"
>February 4 </a
>and join the ranks of other distinguished recipients, including
<span class="link"
><a
href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-z-says-he-wasnt-sending-a-message-while-sitting-during-the-national-anthem-at-super-bowl/"
data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=""
>Jay-Z</a
></span
>, Colin Powell and Muhammad Ali. NAACP president Derrick Johnson
presented her with the honor during the live show that aired on BET.
</p>
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<p>
<em
>Disclosure: BET is a division of
<a href="https://www.viacbs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
>ViacomCBS</a
>.</em
>
</p>
</section>