Rihanna Calls for Solidarity in NAACP Speech: "We Can’t Do It Divided"
Last night, Rihanna received the President's Award at the 2020 NAACP Image Awards. In her speech, RiRi called for solidarity in the fight against racial injustice.
The singer-turned-entrepreneur was presented with the award for her work with the Clara Lionel Foundation, which she founded in 2012. During her acceptance speech, Rihanna shared what she has learned through her philanthropic work. "We can’t do it divided. I cannot emphasize that enough. We can’t let the de-sensitivity seep in."
After asking the crowd how many had non-black friends, Riri stressed how those friends should "pull up" for black issues, too. "Well, 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 Michael Brown Jr.'s and Atatiana Jefferson's of the world, tell your friends to pull up."
Watch Rihanna's full speech below.