The NAACP Image Awards took place on Saturday night, honoring the best and brightest across the entertainment and activism industries. Actress, producer, and best-selling author Gabrielle Union-Wade and three-time NBA Champion entrepreneur and producer, Dwyane Wade were honored with the President’s Award for their philanthropic efforts benefitting LGBTQIA+ youth.
Highlighting work done through The Wade Family Foundation, which provides relief to marginalized communities in need, helping to advance racial justice and LGBTQ equality, the award was presented by NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson.
The couple has also worked to help raise money for the LGBTQ nonprofit GLSEN, which is dedicated to ending bullying and discrimination in schools. Both the Wades have made it clear that their journey with their daughter Zaya inspired them to take up this mantle to make a better future for children like her.
Taking the stage to accept the honor, the Wades tearfully thanked the organization, with Wade taking a moment to address his daughter directly during the live broadcast.
“I want to take this moment to publicly speak to our daughter, Zaya,” Wade said, addressing the camera. “Zaya, as your father, all I wanted to do was get it right.”
“I’ve sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on the public scrutiny. Even though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning as yourself. I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world.”
“As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future. My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes, your dreams,” he continued. “Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be. Our baby girl, Zaya Wade. Baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father, and thank you so much to the NAACP for this incredible honor.”
Taking the mic, it was now Union-Wade’s turn to address the crowd. She posed a simple, yet loaded question to the audience and the organization:
“Will we fight for some, or will we fight for all of our people?”
“Let’s just name a couple of hard truths. First, the intersection of Black rights and the rights of LGBTQIA, trans, and gender-nonconforming people continues to be rough – that’s a huge understatement,” she said to grand applause. “Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we consistently fail to extend our advocacy to protect some of the most vulnerable among us.”
“Second, Black trans people are being targeted, terrorized, and hunted in this country every day. Everywhere. And there’s rarely a whisper about it. We honestly don’t approach this work as activists or leaders as much as we do this as parents. Parents who love our children and will do whatever the hell we can to keep them seen and secure and safe.”
“We are humbled and we are hopeful for the future,” Union-Wade concluded. “I’m hopeful. We are hopeful that we may witness a real shift in the fight for justice. The moment the movement makes room for everyone.”
