Tyler Perry's BET acceptance speech aimed at black youth

Film director and producer Tyler Perry touched the hearts of many young black people with his acceptance speech at the BET Awards held in Los Angeles in the US on Sunday night. 

The actor won the Ultimate Icon award and shared his story of why he built his studio at one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Atlanta. 

. @TheRealTaraji presents @TylerPerry with the Ultimate Icon Award! #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/gl4bFt2b16

— BET (@BET) June 24, 2019

“When I built my studio I built it in a neighborhood that is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Atlanta so that young black kids could see that a black man did that and they can do it too. 

“The studio was once a confederate army base which meant that there were confederate soldiers on that base plotting and planning on how to keep 3,9 million negros enslaved. And today that land is owned by 1 negro,’ said Perry. 

Young black people took to Twitter and tweeted quotes from Perry’s speech. These are some of our favourites. 

Help somebody to cross

Well said #TylerPerry🙌🙌🙌✊🏽✊🏽👑

— LwandoDabula (@LwandohDabula) June 25, 2019

Tyler Perry said create your own table and watch God set it in the presence of your enemies and that’s exactly the type of motivation I need #BETAwards

— Outofcreativenames (@esornair) June 24, 2019

Thinking about Tyler Perry's BET acceptance speech...the words "help her cross"...keep running in my head. #TylerPerry #TuesdayThoughts

— Itayi Chitauro Junior (@itayiISwriting) June 25, 2019

Tyler Perry preaching right now and the sermon is called “ help somebody cross “ I hope y’all taking notes #betawards #tylerperry

— Lawrence Gerald (@LawrenceGerald1) June 24, 2019

Tyler Perry's speech was beautiful, when he said "....now that land is owned by one negro" the audience lost it 🔥🔥🔥 #BETAwards19

— Asanda Genu (@_Genu) June 25, 2019

Work Like You’re Broke #tylerperry #BETAwards19

— Meshia Edwards (@metherealtor) June 24, 2019 IOL