At the 9th Annual ABFF Honors on Monday night, actor Angela Bassett used her moment on stage to speak candidly about the rapid rise of AI, and the uncertain future of Black creatives in Hollywood, even as she accepted the Excellence in the Arts award.
The ceremony, organised by the American Black Film Festival, celebrated some of the industry’s most influential voices. But it was Bassett’s powerful acceptance speech that set the tone for the evening, as she reflected on inclusion, representation and the changing landscape of entertainment.
“Someone said earlier, and it’s true, we are living in a moment where the language of inclusion and belonging is being challenged, rebranded and in some cases, erased altogether,” Bassett began in her acceptance speech.
“Words that once felt like promise and possibility are now treated as words to avoid. And this shift has landed in our very real lives, real careers and real dreams. At the same time, our industry is transforming at lightning speed. Technology is moving faster than wisdom. Business models are shifting under our feet. Stories are being shortened, flattened and sometimes stripped of their soul in the name of efficiency and projected progress. And in moments like this, I believe it’s fair and necessary to ask, where do Black creatives fit into this future? Who gets to imagine it? Who gets to participate? Who gets to decide?,” she went on.
Reflecting on her early years in Hollywood, the Emmy-winning actor spoke about the lack of representation she encountered when she first entered the industry.
“I came into this business at a time when there were very few examples that told me that a Black woman could live a full, complex, enduring life on screen, and even fewer that suggested that she could ship what happens behind the camera,” the 9-1-1 star continued.
“But what carried me forward was community. What pushed me to keep going was hope. Those Black men and women who made room, those peers who told the truth, those audiences who showed up anyway and a persistent sacred belief that our stories are not trends. They are truths,” the actor said.
As the audience applauded, Bassett addressed what she described as rising hostility and misinformation.
“Targets are being put on our backs as people by those at the highest heights of power in the world. And the only way to combat such vitriol and racism and misinformation about who we are is to keep telling our own stories, by showing the power of our individual and collective journeys. And to not just show the world the kings and queens that we have always been, but to also show them that we do belong, we do matter, and we are not going anywhere because we are home,” she said.
She concluded her speech with a note on resilience and empowerment.
“When I look at this moment, challenging as it is, hope is still what sustains me,” Bassett concluded. “My hope for the future is not simply that we are included. My hope is that we are empowered. I hope we move beyond ‘firsts’ and ‘onlys,’ beyond symbolism without infrastructure. I hope we invest not just in talent but in longevity, in ownership, in mentorship, in legacy. And I hope when the cultural winds shift, as they always do, we do not retreat from one another but that we pull together. To the young artists in this room and those watching who are wondering if there’s still a place for you, hear me and hear me well: You belong here. Your voice matters. And this industry is better when you are shaping it. And to those with power, real power, I challenge you. Be brave. Choose courage over comfort to understand that the future of film and television will not be saved by playing it safe but by allowing us all to have a voice,” she added.
Bassett was one of five honourees celebrated at the event. Dwayne Johnson received the Entertainment Icon Award, while Jennifer Hudson was honoured with the Renaissance Award. Actor and director Salli Richardson-Whitfield was presented with the Evolution Award, and Damson Idris earned the Horizon Award.
The festival also paid tribute to the creative team behind Sinners, with Oscar-nominated stars Michael B. Jordan and Wunmi Mosaku presenting the honour to producers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian.
