Beyoncé is the latest recipient of the annual Humanitarian Award at the 2020 BET Awards, joining the likes of Muhammad Ali, Chance the Rapper, Alicia Keys, and last year's honoree, Nipsey Hussle.
Beyoncé is being recognized for creating the #IDIDMYPART Mobile Testing Relief Campaign with her mother, Tina Knowles Lawson, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movement aims to provide free tests to the people in their home city of Houston, Texas, especially its Black residents, who have proven to be a racial demographic disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus throughout the country.
Her BeyGOOD initiative has teamed up with Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey to donate $6 million towards providing mental wellness services in Houston, New York, New Orleans, and Detroit. BeyGOOD has also contributed to causes focused on voting rights, and scholarships, as well as the Global Citizen Fellowship Program. She announced that proceeds made from her latest single, "Black Parade," will go towards supporting Black-owned small businesses in need.
She dedicated the award to her "brothers and sisters out there inspiring change" and made clear the importance of voting. "We have to vote like our life depends on it. Because it does," Beyoncé said. "So please continue to be the change we want to see."
Watch Michelle Obama present her the award, as well as Bey's acceptance speech below.
Proving that the philanthropic work never ends, Beyoncé shared her open letter earlier today, pushing for senators to pass the HEROES Act, whose aim is to "help provide funding to ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle." You can sign the petition here.
