The
Yolanda Denise King “Higher Ground” award at
The King Center’s Beloved Community awards on Saturday (January 16, 2021) in recognition of her work as an artist, as co-founder of the
Born This Way Foundation – which supports the mental health of young people and works with them to create a kinder world – her campaigning in support of the
Black Lives Matter movement, and also her advocacy to ensure PPE was distributed to healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gaga – who was introduced at the event by
Jennifer Hudson – dedicated the honor to “Black, Brown and Indigenous” people for their “resilience”.
“I dedicate this award to Black, Brown and Indigenous people,” she began. “Triumphant people, whose resilience is the life force of every beloved community in this country. Black, Brown and Indigenous people continue to thrive in the midst of systemic oppression, thrive with radical joy, unapologetically creating full and beautiful lives despite the systems of white supremacy that are intended to keep them from doing so.”