By Cheryl Smith
As we close out Black History Month 2024, let’s keep it real.
Let’s make it make sense. White validation is alive and well.
Which brings me to my truth.
There was a time when Black people valued Black things.
Specifically, at this point, I want to focus on awards programs, and the entertainment industry, for example.
It is important to celebrate accomplishments and presenting awards is a way to highlight our best and brightest; while also giving folks their flowers while they can see and smell them.
However, we should not minimize those accomplishments and programs that are presented by our people.
I’m proud to hear when we, Black people, are saluted, especially by us, because you know we can be hypercritical.
Some people wake up every morning with not only bad breath but a bad taste in their mouth that makes it only natural for bad words and thoughts to come out as well.
It is important to note that Harry Belafonte, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, Quincy Jones, and John Legend are the only Blacks to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
In 2011, the incomparable James Earl Jones was awarded an Honorary Academy Award which catapulted him to EGOT winner status.
And we all know he should have won an Oscar for the 1974 classic, “Claudine.”
Now, I am more interested in hearing about those who won awards that were established by us and for us; for example, the NAACP Image Awards.
For me, it would be unconscionable to have someone introduce me and leave out the awards from my people, especially when you consider how exclusionary and flat-out racist some of the other awards programs have been over time.
Creating things for us is a direct action or reaction to an action by others. HBCUs came about because there was a time if you wanted to get a college education your skin color was a barrier.
It wasn’t until the 12th Academy Awards program that a Black person received an Oscar. A big shout out to Hattie McDaniel who in 1940 won for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gone With The Wind.
Just think about it, a daughter of former enslaved Africans, is honored but she had to accept her award in a segregated hotel!
No way was the Academy. Letting her on the stage!
So when you consider all those who came before her, who were just as deserving but didn’t have an opportunity. And think about those since.
Maybe I had better shut up before I get nervous like Hip Hop entertainment mogul and businessman Jay Z and say something even more truthful as he did at the recent Grammy Awards; when he pointed out that Beyonce had received more Grammy Awards than anyone (32), but never one for best album.
He too, wanted someone to “make it make sense!”
“I’m just saying, we want y’all to get it right,” he said, to applause.
But he also knows as we all know that it is so hard for some to admit their wrongdoings and therefore the “rights” are too far and in between.
I see why some want to erase the past. I’d be ashamed for folks to know I did some of the things that folks are trying to deny happened.
And it was the same thing for Black Churches, hotels, hair salons, and almost anything else.
When we couldn’t get things from anywhere else, we could count on the Black communities.
I’m just saying, don’t forget this, and make sure you remember those who were there for you when no one else was.
Don’t get validated by others and turn around and discard, ignore those who were at one time, the only ones standing for you!
And I know we have many that we could include: Soul Train, Urban One, Trumpet, BET, Lady Soul, Hoodies, etc
I am going to double down and hopefully be all-encompassing.
So congratulations to those who are IEGOTs — Image (NAACP), Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award recipients!
