During the 2018 BET Awards, audiences at home got emotional during a special humanitarian awards presentation. The group of recipients included a survivor from the Parkland, Florida school shooting and the man who saved lives at a Nashville Waffle House.
BET usually honors a celebrity for their humanitarian efforts every year, but instead chose to highlight the work of black activists at the 2018 awards. The honorees were introduced by John Legend.
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James Shaw Jr. was honored for his actions on April 22. He jumped into action to stop a gunman at a Nashville Waffle House. He also launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the shooting victims.
Anthony Borges is one of the victims of the Feb. 14 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. The 15-year-old helped save 20 of his fellow students, and was shot five times himself. He stood on the stage in crutches at the ceremony.
The other recipients were Naomi Wadler, a fifth-grader and the youngest speaker at the March For Our Lives Rally; Justin Blackman, the only student who walked out of his North Carolina school to protest gun violence; Mamoudou Gassama, a Malian migrant who saved boy in France; and journalist/activist Shaun King.
Here is how audiences at home reacted to the emotional ceremony.
So far next to those humanitarian awards (Good Job 👏🏿 BET) Meek performance is the BEST part of this show…sidebar: Why they had Markelle Fultz out there? He bout to be traded! 🤷🏿♂️ #PhillyStandUp #MeekMill #AndItWasSomeNewMeek #BETAwards #StayWokeCuzMeekSaidSo 😂😂😂
— JFP3 (@Polo4Ever77) June 25, 2018
One viewer was surprised that Mari Copeny, who has pushed for clean water in Flint, Michigan, was not honored.
That humanitarian things was cute, but @LittleMissFlint is putting in work for her city and also FLINT. IS. STILL. IN. A. WATER. CRISIS. But go off. #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/Rk8kk20oQq
— House of LaDasia (@dasia_35) June 25, 2018
Another viewer loved how they handed out the award this year.
I love how they did the Humanitarian Award at @BETAwards this year.. they should keep it that way. Auntie Maxine looked pleased too ❤️ All the recipients are beyond deserving #BETAwards
— Ni ♒ (@miss_esj) June 25, 2018
One viewer thought Legend was the perfect presenter for the awards.
@johnlegend was the PERFECT person to present the humanitarian and hero award. These award recipients and @johnlegend have gained my respect for their actions and their voice. #BETAwards #BETAwards18
— GRACE (@LaToyah010) June 25, 2018
Another viewer thought all six activists deserved the award.
Congrats to the recipients of the Humanitarian Award!!! Very well deserved!!! 👏👏👏👏 #BETAwards
— MOON GIRL ⭐ (@honeynation) June 25, 2018
Photo credit: Twitter / @RWwatchMA
