At Essence’s pre-Oscars luncheon, the message is clear: ‘Sisters are the vibranium’

At the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in Beverly Hills, Danai Gurira, the afternoon affair’s first honoree, began her acceptance on a high note. Before launching into her passionate speech, she instead surprised Lupita Nyong’o, her presenter and “Black Panther” costar, with a birthday song. A cheering audience immediately joined her.

Throughout the affair, there were tears, standing ovations and more cheering, which, for those not present, will be shown on TV when the luncheon airs Saturday on OWN.

The event

The Thursday gathering at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel paid tribute to Gurira as well as actress Tiffany Haddish of “Girls Trip,” actress Tessa Thompson of “Thor: Ragnarok” and actress and screenwriter Lena Waithe of “Master of None.” The afternoon affair, which was presented by Ford Motor Co., also included a performance of the song “Warrior” by Chloe X Halle.

The crowd

Hosted by Yvonne Orji of “Insecure,” the luncheon also featured as speakers Janelle Monáe (“Hidden Figures”), Angela Bassett (“Black Panther”), Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”), director Ava DuVernay (“A Wrinkle in Time”), Essence editor in chief Vanessa K. De Luca and Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks. Among others spotted in the by-invitation audience were Daniel Kaluuya and Betty Gabriel (“Get Out”), Jussie Smollett and Gabourey Sidibe (“Empire”), Susan Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”), Amandla Stenberg (“Everything, Everything”), Loretta Devine (“The Carmichael Show”), Vicky Jeudy (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Chanté Adams (“Roxanne, Roxanne”).

The honorees

“Sisters are the vibranium,” Gurira said, comparing black women to the treasured strong metal featured in the blockbuster film “Black Panther.” This wasn’t before she recounted when, as a 9-year-old living in Africa, she participated in a fashion show for some visiting Americans.

Back then, she said, “A stunning brown-skinned woman took my face in her hands … looked me deep in the eye, and she told me that I was beautiful. … So now I had to consider the idea that it might just be true.” The woman, Susan L. Taylor, she said, had been a longtime editor in chief of Essence.

She then spoke of the need to encourage in youth, “self-acceptance and self-love and help them see their greatness,” ending with a mandate to “take that little girl’s face in your hands and tell her she’s beautiful.”

Next up, an effervescent Haddish had the audience erupting with laughter as she spoke, with considerable humor, of her life as a foster youth and her earlier struggles. “I’m glad I had those experiences because now when I perform I come from a place of reality,” she said.

She said by living with other families and through her travels, she has learned a lesson. “Everybody is the same,” she said. “We all have problems. We all want to be loved. We all want to be happy.” She then wished that “every single person in here is full of happiness. ... I hope your happiness is contagious. Then she concluded by saying, “If you ever feel like bringing some negativity, just sit your ass down somewhere else.”

During her turn at the podium, Thompson said, “What a time to be black — and I say that with a heart bursting with gratitude for every single person that came before us because we would not be here otherwise.” She acknowledged the inequities that still exist and said, “We live in the time of black girl magic that the whole world is reeling from. … We together collectively speak to the majesty of black women, to the breadth of our complexity and nuance, to the differences between us and to the sameness that we share.”

Waithe’s concern was for the “little lesbians in training.” She said, “Who would have believed that in 2018, I would still be considered a revolutionary?” She then spoke of her favorite childhood movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” particularly the part in which “Dorothy’s presence interrupts the peace in Oz, which forces all the Munchkins to go run and hide.”

Waithe added, “I ask those of you who are still hiding, ‘Come out, come out, wherever you are.’ Please don’t be afraid, and I want you to know that I’m here to hold your hand.”