The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema The Big & Small Screen
WITH four months to go until the United States of America go to the polls, it appears the world is waking up to the realisation that Donald Trump could actually win this election. November 8, 2016 is going to be a historic day for America, rather unforgettable. Historic in the sense that it is either the day they continue the “change of guard” and go from having their first black president to electing their first female leader into office. Or it is going to be remembered as the day the country elects its first “retard” into the White House.
I know it is not politically correct to call someone a “retard”, but what else would you call a person who equates greatness to building a fence around a country so as to prevent foreigners from crossing over? Someone who labels minority races as child stealers, muggers and all sorts of unprintable words.
Retard might not be the correct name for such a person, but hey it is the only printable insult I could come up with.
Do not panic, I am not going political, we are still talking television and film. Never has the realisation that Trump could win been more evident than during the recently held Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
I have always been a keen admirer of the way the Americans hold the music award shows; strictly from an organisational point of view that is. Whether it is the entertainment value, fashion sense, the glitz and the glamour, they truly are trend setters in the showbiz industry.
Personally, I hope to live to the day when Zimbabwe’s Zimas, Namas, Hip/Hop or Zim dancehall Award shows catch up to where these guys are right now. After the fiasco that was this year’s Academy Awards (Oscars), and the apparent race debacle that marred proceedings, a lot was expected at this year’s BETs.
They could have cowed under pressure and held their usual programme filled with all the pomp and fanfare or they could have stood and made a statement. I am glad they chose the latter. Held on June 26, this year’s BET Awards put their best foot forward. The show sizzled, popped and then pooped out Donald Trump. It was not all smooth sailing though.
Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross returned and almost ruined the whole show for everyone, as the two did an even worse of job of hosting than last year.
Their opening skit was terrible, their jokes failed to land and sometimes had no noticeable punch lines at all. R&B artiste Bilal almost ruined a perfectly classy Prince tribute when he went mental and started gyrating on the stage. Also there is an apparent lack of ‘A’ list stars as the likes Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay Z, Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown were all absent.
Some of the presenters seemed to be there only to promote their projects and oh, did I mention some of the banter was atrocious. Luckily though, the show’s positives outweigh the negatives.
Firstly, rather than making it entirely a musical affair, the worlds of sport, music and film all united to honour their black stars. Steph Curry and Serena Williams were duly awarded their respective Best Male and Female awards.
This time it was during the main show rather than being relegated to the pre-show.
The same goes for the film category as Taraji P Henson and Michael B Jordan were awarded best female and male actors.
The biggest takeaway from the night was, however, the statement BET made about the political landscape and upcoming elections.
Beyonce and rapper Kendrick Lamar kicked the night of statements with an electric and energised performance of her hit single “Freedom”. Messages, both subliminal and direct, were made as presenters and winners took turns to express their opinions about the upcoming elections.
“I am really not political, but it is serious out here. And for those who think, ‘oh he is not going to win’, think again,” said Henson during her acceptance speech where she urged people to go and cast their votes.
Usher Raymond was clearer about his message, as he wore an outfit printed “Don’t Trump America”. Co-host Ross even went as far as to reveal that she is indeed rooting and voting for Hillary Clinton.
Messages aside, the night’s biggest hits came as the likes of Janelle Monae, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Erykah Badu and yes, even Bilal paid homage to the late Prince.
In sport, the recently departed Mohammed Ali was given his own little tribute as daughter Layla Ali spoke of her father and the impact he had on the lives of the people he touched.
So classy was her tribute that she has my favourite quote of the night.
“My father once told me that if people loved each other like they love me, the world would be a better place.”
The tributes did not end there.
Samuel L Jackson and television star Jessie Williams, from the hit series “Grey’s Anatomy”, were given the Lifetime Achievement and the Humanitarian Awards. Eat your heart out Oscars!
Both stars gave their acceptance speeches a conscious feel with Jackson talking about the need to vote and vote right while Williams spoke in length about black lives and the struggles they are going through.
He touched on gun control, need for activism, civil rights movements and urged the audience to spare a thought and prayer for those black people that have been killed ruthlessly during the course of the year.
