00:00Hello everyone. How were your glam sessions this morning? A little early, not
00:09bad for 8 a.m. though. Okay, according to NACE, the National Association of
00:17Colleges and Employers, the term equity refers to fairness and justice and is
00:23distinguished from equality. Whereas equality means providing the same to
00:29all. Equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and we
00:36must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. The process is ongoing,
00:43requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers
00:48arising from bias or systemic structures. Now you know who I think of when I hear
00:56that definition? Kerry Washington. I mean, think about it. Every component of her
01:07career that she has built, the empire that she has created speaks to equity. And how
01:15has she done that? By being herself and taking up space. Kerry has, you can clap
01:22for that. I love you. Kerry has squashed the traditional stereotypes of being a
01:34black woman in Hollywood. I might say just being a woman in Hollywood. She has
01:38expanded our minds of what we can be. From playing the messy, complicated, but
01:44dynamic Olivia Pope. Bringing Anita Hill to the screen. To producing and starring in
01:50un-prisoned. Which by the way, I have never felt so seen by a show. It's true. The
01:56black enough conversation. The black and southern conversation. The how to be a
02:01main bitch conversation. I live, honey. Kerry uses her platform to speak on things she
02:12cares about. Boating rights, sugar and spice and repro rights, education, the
02:19environment. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Identifying those imbalances
02:26referenced in that definition of equity in a way that people can receive. And then she
02:32takes the next step of educating her audiences. Whether on social media or through the project
02:39she champions through her production company Simpson Street.
02:46But the key to all of this is Kerry herself. You can see yourself in her. No matter who you
02:59are or what you look like. She goes out into the world unapologetically herself. Goofy, funny, academic,
03:08big hearted, classy, ever graceful. She tells the truth from her perspective. And she's blunt
03:15about it sometimes, which I personally love. Queen of the reframe. One of the most important
03:21things that she imparted to me is that you don't have to have all the answers, but you should
03:26want to be a part of the solution. Now, I first met Kerry on this set of Ryan Murphy's The Prom. And I was
03:34very nervous, to say the least. It was the first time I'd ever really worked in Los Angeles. I was
03:40still very new to this thing called Hollywood. And she walked in to the hair and makeup trailer. She
03:46had her little headphones on. I was like, ooh, she's focused. She's doing the work. Well, okay. Let
03:51me just mind my own business and just get my wig on real fast. I'll introduce myself later when it's
03:57more appropriate. And so I'm just like minding my own business. And I see her pop right over here.
04:03And she goes, hi, I'm Kerry. And I'm going to be your mom today. That is Kerry Washington. It was awesome.
04:14And from that moment on, she sort of like shepherded me, guided me. You know, again, being new, not really
04:21understanding where I was. She helped me understand the moment I was in. I watched a leader in action
04:31on set. She turned a whole host of extras into one massive scene partner, while never, ever once
04:39undermining our director. I'd never seen that done before. It was exceptional. She had that handled. I don't
04:49know. I had to try for it. You know what I'm saying? You're welcome. You're welcome. During
04:54that time, though, I was also incredibly anxious about another project I had worked on. West Side
05:00Story. Thank you. And while we were chatting one day, I shared with her that I was, quite
05:07frankly, just scared for all of the obvious reasons. Rita Moreno, iconic character, 60 years
05:12of legacy. Yeah. Steven Spielberg. No pressure. Everything's fine. And for a
05:18and for, at the time, what may not have been obvious reasons. I was worried that my heritage
05:24would come into question. That perhaps being half Puerto Rican wouldn't be acceptable. I
05:29wouldn't be deemed worthy enough for the position I've been charged to fill. And at that time,
05:36she imparted a sentiment to me that was sort of this essence. To share in a world that doesn't
05:41necessarily want to truly understand its people is an act of courage. To choose to see the
05:48good and the possibility of the world and its people is also an act of courage. You are enough.
05:56You are more than enough. I held on to that then, and I hold on to it to this day. I didn't know at the
06:06time that she would go on to write her New York Times bestselling book, Thicker Than Water. Igniting a
06:14national conversation on the different definitions of family. That's what I was feeling at the time. To
06:24realize that we shared that feeling. Once I made the connection, it was actually really profound. Because
06:34we meet our heroes. And you never really feel like they could feel what you're feeling. She's
06:42exceptionally human. It's what makes her great. That she was brave enough to share her deeply personal
06:51story with the world so that others, myself included, could better understand the complexities
06:57of our identities and our own stories. It further demonstrates her innate desire to help people.
07:03I know so many people feel that way. And we're so grateful. Now, I recently spoke with two of
07:11Carrie's co-stars, Lexi Underwood and Tiffany Boone from Little Fires Everywhere. And it became very
07:18clear that we hold the same feelings about Queen K-dubs. She is an inspiration to women around the world.
07:26The epitome of grace, class, and leadership. She is a trailblazer. She has shown us what is
07:32possible, not just in our industry, but in the world. She is the model of hard work and hustle. Again,
07:40by unapologetically taking up space. Without observing the compromise of palatability. That's my favorite part of you.
07:50She has created the space for all of us. The three of us, we're just a small representation of the equity that she is still creating in real time.
08:04in real time. Carrie Washington, it is a thrill to bear witness to your journey and may we all continue to learn from your example.
08:13And it is my privilege to present the Hollywood Reporter Award for Equity and Entertainment to Carrie Washington.
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