Lupita Nyong’o won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 12 Years A Slave. Not much brings me to tears. The shear total excitement and disbelief that Lupita Nyongo displayed was so honest. What brought a wet eye however is understanding exactly what she meant when she said, “When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.” It is the desire of all to be unique yet integral within a society that escapes some.
My daughter saw most of the movies nominated and she felt all the actresses were deserving. Lupita Nyong’o, in that field, to her and to many had that ‘je ne sais quoi”, that ‘yo no se que’ that could be that subjective nudge ahead. I told her while that may be so, Lupita Nyong’o did not fulfill America’s stereotype or profile especially given the field. I assumed and we all know what happens when one assumes.
At an Essence event where Lupita Nyong’o accepted a breakout award she said the following.
“I got teased and taunted about my skin. My one prayer to God was that I would wake up lighter skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of the mirror because I wanted to see my face first. Every day I would feel the disappointment of being just as dark as the day before.” It wasn’t until she saw supermodel Alek Wek that Nyong’o no longer saw it as an “obstacle.” Nyong’o said she hopes that her face will have a similar effect on young women around the world.
Lupita Nyong’o’s speech was touching. She remembered to acknowledge that the story of the movie that is giving her much joy in winning an Oscar award was that of immense pain to others.
Lupita Nyong’o Best Supporting Actress Acceptance Speech
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