When we are kids, we have big dreams. We think we can do anything we want. Fly to space and ride on shooting stars. Be the boss of the country and eat yummy pancakes all day. Be a famous star and dazzle everyone with our glamour.
But sometimes, it’s hard to believe in our dreams when we don’t see anyone like us doing them. We want to see people who look like us and who are loved and respected by others. We want to feel like we belong in this world. We want to be proud of who we are.
That’s why Lizzo’s speech at the Emmys was so powerful. She won an award for her show “Watch Out for the Big Girls,” where she looked for awesome dancers for her tour. She thanked the Emmys and the voters, but she also thanked the women who were on stage with her. They were all big, black, and beautiful, just like her. They had amazing stories to tell, but they didn’t get enough attention. Lizzo wanted to change that. She wanted to show the world that they were superstars.
Lizzo won an Emmy for her outstanding competition show “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls,” but it’s her acceptance speech that is making waves
Lizzo won an Emmy for her outstanding competition show “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls,” but it’s her acceptance speech that is making waves
“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone is fat like me. Black like me. Beautiful like me. If I could go back and tell little Lizzo something, I’d be like, ‘You’re going to see that person, but, b***h, it’s going to have to be you!’”
“Big girls, come onstage right now—right now!” she encouraged. “I want to say thank you to the Emmys and the Emmy voters, first of all. I’m very emotional. The trophy is nice, but my emotion is for these people who are on the stage with me. The stories that they share. They’re not that unique; they just don’t get the platform. Tell stories; let’s just tell more stories.”
Lizzo made many people cry with her speech, including herself. She also made many people cheer, especially the women who were competing on her show. They were going on a world tour with her, and they were excited. Lizzo also said she loved her dad and asked God to bless everyone.
She is very close to getting the EGOT, which is a big deal in show business. It means she has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. Only 17 people have done that so far, and Lizzo might be the next one.
Lizzo’s speech was not only about her but also about other people who felt like her. She also inspired many kids who saw her on TV. For example, some kids of color were very happy to see the trailer for The Little Mermaid, where Halle Bailey, a black actress, plays the main role. They felt like they could be mermaids or anything they wanted.
Lizzo is now one step closer to the coveted EGOT—a compilation of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. As of 2022, 17 people have accomplished this
How often do you see someone who looks like you on the big screen or on TV? If you’re a minority, chances are not very often. And that’s a problem, because representation matters. It affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. It shapes our dreams and our identities.
Don’t believe me? Well, let me drop some facts on you. Dr. Ninochka McTaggart and her team did a study in 2019 and found out that black girls and women only got to be the main characters in 3.7% of the top 100 movies in the last 10 years, even though they make up 6.5% of the US population. That’s not fair, right? And it’s not like things were better before. They actually got worse.
Black women are often not represented or are misrepresented in pop culture, leading to Black women criticizing their natural features
Some students who study Black History at the University of San Diego say that this is because white people used to make fun of black women and make them look bad in the media, so they could feel better about themselves. They came up with stereotypes like the “angry black woman” that are still around today and hurt a lot of people.
They also say that because white is seen as the norm, black women are either ignored or shown in a negative way, which makes them feel bad about their natural beauty and think they have to change to fit in. This is really important because what we see when we’re young affects how we feel when we’re older and who we become. And this is not just about black women. It’s about anyone who doesn’t fit the model body type that the media loves so much.
The same can be said for overweight people. So should people be subjected to ridicule and misrepresentation solely based on their race, weight and body composition?
Did you know that most American adults are overweight or obese? That means that being at a normal weight is actually rare. But you wouldn’t know that from watching TV. Most shows that have people who are obese make them look like jokes, losers, or weirdos. They also make it seem like it’s their fault that they’re obese, not because of other factors like their environment or their genes.
But even if someone wants to lose weight and be healthier, they still have to live with their body and be happy with it. So why should they be judged and mocked just because of their size and shape? Why should we care so much about how we look compared to others?
These are some tough questions to think about, but let me show you something that might make you smile. Have you heard of The Little Mermaid live-action remake? It’s a new movie based on the classic Disney cartoon. Well, guess who’s playing Ariel, the main character? Halle Bailey is a black actress. And she’s amazing.
When they announced that she was cast as Ariel, a lot of people online got mad and said that she shouldn’t play a character who’s supposed to be white and have red hair. But they’re just haters who can’t handle change.
Now that the trailer is out and we can see how awesome the movie looks, a lot of parents are filming their kids’ reactions and posting them online. And let me tell you, they are adorable. The moment that young black girls see themselves as Disney princesses for the first time is priceless.
Parents filmed their young daughters rejoicing when they realized their beloved princess, played by Halle Bailey, was closer to them than ever before
One video on TikTok says “when your favorite Disney princess looks like you” and shows a little 3-year-old girl who gets excited when she sees Ariel on the screen. “I think she’s brown,” she says, with a big smile on her face. “Brown Ariel is cute.” In another video, a girl screams with joy while her mom records, “Mama, she’s black!”
In conclusion, it shows how much representation matters and how much it can make a difference in someone’s life. It gives hope that one day we’ll all be represented fully and fairly, and that we’ll be able to love and celebrate each other for who we are.