Kamala Harris Accepts The NAACP Chairman’s Award In LaQuan Smith, Delivers An Inspiring Speech

Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was a vision of grace as she accepted the prestigious NAACP Chairman’s Award on February 22. Dressed in a black structured LaQuan Smith suit, Madame VP exuded power and sophistication.

Her signature flawless hair gleamed under the stage lights. Smiling warmly, she carried herself with the style and poise we’ve come to know, love, and be inspired by.

RELATED: Red Carpet Rundown: Chloe Bailey, Gabrielle Union, Cynthia Erivo, & More Slay The 56th NAACP Image Awards

Kamala Harris Slays The NAACP Image Awards Stage In LaQuan Smith

The NAACP honors individuals with the Chairman’s Award who excel in public service and leverage their platforms to drive meaningful change. Past recipients include cultural and political icons such as Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late Congressman John Lewis, President Barack Obama, and Tyler Perry.

In recognizing Harris, the NAACP issued a statement, “Vice President Harris embodies the power, grace, and unyielding courage that Black women have long brought to the heart of the United States… When Black women lead, the entire nation rises.”

Taking the podium, Harris delivered a speech that was both deeply personal and universally resonant. She thanked the Chairman and proudly recognized her lifetime membership to the historic civil rights organization.

She also reflected on the NAACP’s profound influence on her path and called out the words of W.E.B. Du Bois: “It is today that your best work can be done, and not some future day or future year.”

RELATED: Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris Wears Custom Laquan Smith Gown To CBCF Dinner

“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, what do we do now? But we know exactly what to do because we have done it before, and we will do it again. We use our power, we organize, mobilize, we educate, and we advocate.”

Harris concluded with a powerful reminder that history is not shaped solely by those in positions of power but by the collective efforts of the people.

Keke Palmer Wins NAACP Image Award For ‘Entertainer of the Year’

Keke Palmer took the stage to accept the NAACP’s Entertainer of the Year Award. The multi-talented star beat out heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Cynthia Erivo to earn the coveted honor.

Looking stunning in her now signature cinnamon red hair and a body-hugging black gown, Keke reflected on the importance of the Black community coming together. She pressed on creating opportunities and a table instead of waiting for one.

Keke, who has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years, credited the Black community with uplifting her throughout her career. She reminisced about her breakout film Akeelah and The Bee, noting that while it didn’t initially perform well in theaters, it became a classic because of the love and support from Black audiences.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BET Networks (@bet)

She told the audience, “And so while we continue to ask for more money—because we need that—it’s important that we remember that what we choose and deem is important is enough.”

DONT MISS:

Keke Palmer & Her Cinnamon Hair Take Over NYFW

Thank You, Kamala Harris: Celebrities Praise Vice President Kamala Harris For A Job Well Done