The BET Awards weekend has always had the feel of a summertime cookout or a family reunion. Events such as the BET Experience, exclusive parties and networking opportunities have made the BET Awards weekend the ultimate celebration of Black culture.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BET was forced to adjust to keep the legacy of the awards weekend alive. With BET celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the moment was too important for America’s first Black-owned cable station to reschedule. So, with the tagline “Can’t cancel culture,” performances by Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch, and Amanda Seales serving as host, the BET Awards held a virtual 2020 ceremony.
Here are the five most powerful moments.
Fight The Power 2020
Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” became hip-hop’s de facto protest song after it was released in 1989 as a song on Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing soundtrack. With protests taking place around the world following the death of George Floyd, Public Enemy opened the 2020 BET Awards with an updated version of the song with help from Nas, The Roots, Rapsody, and Y.G.
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