Inspirational & Refreshing Acceptance Speech by Denzel Washington at the 48th NAACP Image Awards 2017 | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Denzel Washington, Fences
Transcript:
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, Edward Albee, August Wilson.
August Wilson is one of the greatest playwrights in the history of American or World theatre. It is a privilege, an honour, a responsibility, a duty and a joy to bring his brilliance to the screen.
I am particularly proud and happy about the young filmmakers, actors, singers, writers, producers that are coming up behind my generation, in particular Barry Jenkins. Young people understand, this young man made 10, 15, 20 short films before he got the opportunity to make Moonlight, so never give up. Without commitment you’ll never start but more importantly without consistency you’ll never finish.
It’s not easy. If it was easy, there’d be no Kerry Washington. If it was easy, there’d be no Taraji Henson. P. Henson. If it were easy, there’d be no Octavia Spencer. But not only that, if it were easy, there’d be no Viola Davis.
If it were easy, there’d be no Michael T Williamson. No Stephen McKinley Henderson. No Russell Hornsby.
If it were easy, there’d be no Denzel Washington.
So, keep working. Keep striving. Never give up. Fall down seven times, get up eight. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. So, keep moving, keep growing, keep learning. See you at work.
