BET Awards: Winner Samuel L Jackson Thanks God for a Lifetime of Achievements
The 16th annual BET Awards aired live Sunday night from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and actor Samuel L. Jackson said God was to be thanked first for his lifetime of achievements.
The show, which is meant to honors artists, actors and athletes across 20 categories for their impact on black entertainment, awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to the veteran actor who has become the face of Marvel's character Nick Fury. The night also featured tributes to Prince and a surprise performance by Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams also delivered a passionate Black Lives Matter speech after winning the Humanitarian Award.
When Jackson received the Lifetime Achievement Award, he spoke directly to the audience.
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"It's sort of exciting, I never get nervous, and I can hear my voice shaking and it's strange to hear myself sound that way. But it's been a great ride getting here, as there are a couple people very instrumental in that," he said in his acceptance speech. "First I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity even in the beginning. A young man who grew up in a segregated Tennessee, nobody told me I could be this. So, here I am, and here you are. Thank God for that."
Jackson has had a very successful career but his stint was drugs in the '70s could have ended it all. He began dabbling with drugs in New York when he joined the acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company. But while standing at the podium accepting his award Sunday, he confessed that it was meeting his wife and the birth of his daughter that led to his change for good and his success today.
"The other two people that challenged me on a regular basis are my foundation and support, my daughter Zoe and my wife LaTanya. The two women that actually found me passed out on the floor after I left somebody's bachelor party and put me in rehab the next day. And supported me and pushed me and give me a reason to get up and go and chase it day after day after day," Jackson revealed.
The 67-year-old cleaned up and has never had a relapse since. He concluded his speech by thanking his fans for supporting him throughout his 40-year career.
"Lastly, I want to thank everybody in here and in the world who has ever bought a ticket, a video, or a DVD with me in it," he said.
Jackson, who was raised a Christian, has publicly said that since rehab he has become a spiritual (rather than religious) man. However, Jackson is most likely paying homage to the God from his Christian roots since he donates regularly to his Baptist church and has lent his voice to a popular audio reading of the Holy Bible, The Bible Experience.
