She opened the envelope and said five words that literally made history: The winner is Sidney Poitier.
Up to the stage came the most elegant man I had ever seen.
I remember his tie was white, and of course, his skin was black.
And Id never seen a black man being celebrated like that.
Dennis Swanson, who took a chance on me forA.M.
Gayle whos been the definition of what a friend is, and Stedman whos been my rock.
But its not just a story affecting the entertainment industry.
Its one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace.
Theyre the women whose names well never know.
They are domestic workers and farm workers.
Theyre part of the world of tech and politics and business.
Theyre our athletes in the Olympics, and theyre our soldiers in the military.
In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and a mother.
But justice wasnt an option in the era of Jim Crow.
The men who tried to destroy her were never persecuted.
Recy Taylor died 10 days ago, just shy of her 98th birthday.
She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men.
But their time is up.
Their time is up.
Their time is up.
And every man every man who chooses to listen.
So I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon!
