Get up out your seat and give Chance The Rapper a massive round of applause. The Chicago MC received the Humanitarian award at the 2017 BET Awards Sunday (June 25) night.
If you've been paying attention to the Grammy award-winning recording artist, you're familiar with the amazing philanthropic work he often does for the children in his hometown. Just a short while ago, Chance donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools. He also raised another $100,000 at his 24th birthday party, created a non-profit called Social Works to further his cause and made the "Go Innovate Challenge" along with the Chicago Beyond organization to help Chi-Town's students who deserve a quality education get one.
So, BET decided to honor Chance for his “musical platform to support a number of impactful educational, social and political initiatives – positively impacting both local and national communities.” BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee gave Chance the honor. “Honestly, I just love everything about him. He took his own path to the top of the charts and took that same creativity to give children the education they deserve," she said.
"He knows this work isn’t for someone else to do later. It’s about what we can do now.” But, Lee wasn't the only person who showed Chance some love. His fellow Chicagoan Former First Lady Michelle Obama also said some touching words to the rapper via video. "Time and again, he has been standing up, speaking out and doing work to get kids on our community the education they deserve. And with these passionate efforts, Chance is showing our young people that they matter," Obama said.
In his acceptance speech, Chance said: “It feels a little early to get something like this but my God doesn’t make mistakes. I like to think he’s putting this enormous pressure on me to see how I react.” Chance then discussed all that’s needed, from better Chicago education to justice across the country. He said he wants to be a better father, cousin, “more involved outside my community of Chicago.” Chance insisted, “Being 24 and something like this doesn’t feel deserved yet… I’m a good man. I’m gonna become a better man.”
Listen to Chance's speech below. Congrats to the young leader!
Photo: Getty Images