Beyoncé Accepts the 2020 BET Awards’ Humanitarian Award From None Other Than Michelle Obama

Who runs the world?

Arguably it should be Beyoncé and Michelle Obama. Fortunately, last night during the 2020 BET Awards we got a glimpse of what the Black Girl Magic Leaders would look like when the Grammy-award winning artist and the former first lady of the United States took part in celebrating Black excellence.

On Sunday, the former First Lady presented the singer with the show’s Humanitarian Award.

Speaking to audiences tuning into the show via video, the Becoming author introduced the award starting off by saying “I am here today to talk about the queen. You know the one!”

Obama continued to praise Beyoncé recalling how “ever since she was a little girl in Houston, Beyoncé Knowles Carter has been lighting up the stages and gracing the world with her talent with her generosity of spirit, and with her love for her community. You can see it in everything she does, from her music that give voice to black joy and black pain, to her activism that demands justice for black lives.”

Obama used her introduction to also share a few personal anecdotes about Beyoncé including how the singer had re-written her number “Get Me Bodied” for the “Let’s Move” campaign which saw the former first lady at the helm. “Got a whole lot of kids shakin’ it on the dance floor,” Obama recalled noting that as an artist Beyoncé’s is “always turning up, looking out, and making us all a little bigger, better, a little more fierce.”

In an affectionate sign off before presenting the award, Obama finished by calling Beyoncé her girl. “I just want to say, you inspire me. You inspire all of us, which is why I am so proud to name Beyonce the 2020 BET Awards’ Humanitarian of the Year honoree. Congratulations, girl. Love you so much,” she finished.

The award show then showed videos of Beyoncé’s activism over the years.

In a tribute to the singer’s activism, the award show celebrated her acts of charity including her work to help out her hometown of Houston Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and her work to help others through her BeyGood non-profit.

In response to the honor, Beyoncé dedicated her award to Black men and women.

“Thank you so much for this beautiful honor,” Beyoncé replied. “I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching, and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard, and you are proving to our ancestors at their struggles were not in vain.”

Beyoncé finished her acceptance speech asking viewers to take action. “Now, we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power and that is to vote. I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change, and dismantle a racist and unequal system…We have to vote like our life depends on it because it does. So please continue to be the change you want to see.”

Closing out her acceptance speech, Beyonce thanked “BET for this honor. It means so much to me, especially coming from y’all. I love you. God Bless you and goodnight.”

Beyoncé wasn’t the only Carter to snag an award at the BETs last night. Her daughter Blue Ivy took home the BET Her Award for her work on “Brown Skin Girl.”

Check out highlights from the big night below!