The audience at the 57th NAACP Image Awards showered Delroy Lindo with love.
Lindo made his first public comments at the ceremony since a man with Tourette’s syndrome shouted a racial slur at him and his Sinners co-star, Michael B. Jordan, last weekend at the BAFTA Film Awards.
After taking the stage to present an award with Sinners director Ryan Coogler on Saturday night, Lindo and the filmmaker talked about the power of being among other Black people.
“Before we present this award, I just want to acknowledge something. There’s something powerful about standing in this room tonight — a room where we don’t have to explain ourselves or [that] our stories aren’t footnotes. They are main text,” Coogler began.
“A room where being fully seen is not rare — it is expected,” Lindo added.
The two said it was “an honor” to attend the ceremony and feel welcomed.
Related: ‘Sinners’ and ‘Abbott Elementary’ Take Top Trophies at NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards celebrate Black achievements, honoring leaders, performers and creatives for making an impact in entertainment, advocacy, and culture.
Sinners dominated the awards, which were held in Pasadena, California.
The vampire thriller picked up trophies in 13 categories — including outstanding motion picture; outstanding actor in a motion picture for Michael B. Jordan; outstanding supporting actor for Lindo; outstanding supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku; and outstanding writing and directing awards for Coogler.
During his acceptance speech, the director thanked Warner Bros. for “taking a big bet” on the movie and he expressed gratitude to the audience for embracing it.
“Since our people have been here, for over four centuries, it’s always been a lot of lies told about us,” Coogler said. “The truth, no matter how little power the person has at saying the truth, it’s still the truth. And the truth is — y’all are loved. Y’all are beautiful. And y’all are powerful and mighty. And bless y’all. Thank you so much.”
At another point in the ceremony, One Battle After Another actress Regina Hall praised Lindo and Jordan while on stage to present an award.
“I’d like also to just take a moment for the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class — and that is Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo,” said Hall.
The audience applauded and many people rose to their feet, giving the actors a standing ovation.
The BAFTAs have faced scrutiny since last weekend, when Tourette’s syndrome activist John Davidson yelled insults and racial slurs at people who attended the British awards ceremony. Jordan and Lindo were caught off guard when Davidson shouted the N-word, but the two actors maintained their composure.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts apologized for the outburst and any “trauma” it may have caused, saying his comments were the result of an involuntary tic.
The BBC apologized for airing Davidson’s outburst, even though the show was on a “two-hour delay,” BBC.com reported.
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