While Viola Davis has gotten used to picking up trophies the past few years, she was on the other side Monday night at the Glamour's Women of the Year Awards.
The actress took to the stage to recognize five women who were affected by the shooting in a Charleston church in June that left African-Americans dead.
"I hope that there's continuous, honest, unbridled dialogue," Davis – who recently made headlines for her impassioned speech after becoming the first woman of color to win an Emmy for leading actress – told PEOPLE at the New York event.
"I hope for the people in power, that the dialogue results into active change of policies to move the race relations forward," adds the actress, 50. "It could be anything: in education, in media, anything that moves it forward so it doesn't look the same way it looked last year."
After losing loved ones in the shooting, Polly Sheppard, Alana Simmons, Nadine Collier, Felicia Sanders and Bethane Middleton-Brown banded together to remember their loved ones – and forgive the killer.
"I cannot imagine their pain. I cannot. But neither could I have imagined your strength and how their response to the tragedy helped move our country and our conversation about race and violence forward," said Davis as she introduced the women onstage. "They showed us all the healing power for unity and compassion. This is America at its best."
Shepard, who lost a son in the slaying, kept on with the theme of compassion.
"We need love, not hate. ... It's hate that divides us," said Shepard, in her acceptance speech. "Let's imagine the world with each one of us showing [a loving spirit] to the next person every day," said Shepard. "Now that we have imagined it, let's do it."
Concluded Nadine Collier, the daughter of a victim: "Forgiveness is power."
The actress took to the stage to recognize five women who were affected by the shooting in a Charleston church in June that left African-Americans dead.
"I hope that there's continuous, honest, unbridled dialogue," Davis – who recently made headlines for her impassioned speech after becoming the first woman of color to win an Emmy for leading actress – told PEOPLE at the New York event.
"I hope for the people in power, that the dialogue results into active change of policies to move the race relations forward," adds the actress, 50. "It could be anything: in education, in media, anything that moves it forward so it doesn't look the same way it looked last year."
After losing loved ones in the shooting, Polly Sheppard, Alana Simmons, Nadine Collier, Felicia Sanders and Bethane Middleton-Brown banded together to remember their loved ones – and forgive the killer.
"I cannot imagine their pain. I cannot. But neither could I have imagined your strength and how their response to the tragedy helped move our country and our conversation about race and violence forward," said Davis as she introduced the women onstage. "They showed us all the healing power for unity and compassion. This is America at its best."
Shepard, who lost a son in the slaying, kept on with the theme of compassion.
"We need love, not hate. ... It's hate that divides us," said Shepard, in her acceptance speech. "Let's imagine the world with each one of us showing [a loving spirit] to the next person every day," said Shepard. "Now that we have imagined it, let's do it."
Concluded Nadine Collier, the daughter of a victim: "Forgiveness is power."
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonthman.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment