Tyler Perry brought the audience to it’s feet last night as he rendered one of the most impactful speeches ever, at the 2019 BET Awards.

The writer, producer, and  director was honored with BET’s Ultimate Icon Award. Taraji P. Henson, who has appeared in some of Perry’s films including The Family That Preys (2008), I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) and Acrimony (2018), presented him with the award.

In his powerful speech, Perry talked about how he grew up in an abusive household and that often, to make his mother laugh, he would imitate the women she played cards with. He also stated that those experiences allowed him to create his first 10 movies.

“That moment reminded me of my mother, bringing out of her pain with laughter, helping her cross,” he said. He added that he created those films in hopes of letting his mother know “she’s worthy, to let black women know you are worthy, you are special, you are powerful, you are amazing. All of that that was about helping her cross.”

He also spoke about building his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and giving many African-American actors like Taraji P. Henson, Idris Elba and Viola Davies their big break, at a time when they couldn’t get acting gigs in mainstream Hollywood.

One major highlight from his speech was when he said:

“It’s all about trying to help somebody cross. While everybody else is fighting for a seat at the table, talking about ‘#OscarsSoWhite, #OscarsSoWhite,’ I said, ‘Y’all go ahead and do that. While you’re fighting for a seat at the table, I’ll be down in Atlanta building my own.’ Because what I know for sure is that if I could just build this table, God will prepare it for me in the presence of my enemies.”

Tyler Perry’s speech was met with a standing ovation. Watch his powerful speech in the video below:

Hard work really does pay off. We are so pumped right now by this speech! Our major takeway is this: If they don’t open the door for you then build a freaging door of your own Queens! Yassss

Stefani, 26, has joined a vanguard of minority writers who have finally been given the opportunity to tell Black stories from unique perspectives. She is both a minority in race as she is by gender. As black and female, she leads a trail that would hopefully pave a way for more black female writers in the industry.

Robinson was hired by Donald Glover on the basis of the very first pilot script she ever sent out, which happened to land at FX while he was looking for another writer for the show. But the Atlanta native and Emerson College grad, who recently signed a deal of her own with FX, can confirm her position comes with an “enormous amount of pressure, either real or perceived.” Although she is thankful for the opportunity, she mentions that it’s bitter sweet.

It’s a bummer. It’s a really bittersweet thing, I think. I’m so happy to be the woman in the space, because I think that it’s so rare in Hollywood for a woman, especially a woman of color, to exist in these spaces. So on the one hand, I’m grateful and I think it’s so important and I feel so blessed. But on the other hand, you always wish there was more than one.”

Her journey here, like that of most others, didn’t occur overnight. She kicked off her career by working as an assistant at a talent agency after being out of college for a year and a half. When she decided to try her luck at submitting her own pilot to FX, she had no clue that her leap of faith would create a world of new opportunity, told VICE reports.

On how to get more Black writers in Hollywood, Robinson maintains that it all starts with education and seeing more people like herself occupy those spaces.

“To get more black people in writing roles, it starts with education. A lot of people in general want to get into acting because they don’t know what’s available to them. When I was a kid, I just knew that I loved movies and wanted to be a part of movies or TV someday. I didn’t really know about any black writers. I didn’t know that was a thing black people did, or know that black people were writing, editing, and shooting things, or that they were designing costumes. If you don’t see something, how are you supposed to know that it’s something you want, or that you can aspire to be it one day? As a young person, acting was the most relatable entry into the entertainment industry. Luckily, I was in a position doing theater and various acting programs and I had teachers who recognized my strength in writing and told me that.”

Here’s to hoping that the door which she is holding open is able to pave new entry for more black, female writers creating make-believe magic in years to come.

Photo Credit: Hot New HipHop