00:00Put together a couple of words for you, Nia, if you don't mind.
00:03So we're here today for one reason.
00:06To give some flowers to a real queen.
00:10Miss Nia Long.
00:14Now hold on.
00:15Nia been a star.
00:17Y'all just now putting it on the sidewalk?
00:20You see, we've been knowing.
00:22Boys in the hood, Friday, Love Jones, Soulful, the best man.
00:27Come on now.
00:28Now, Nia wasn't just in the culture.
00:32Nia is the culture.
00:36Yes.
00:36And let me tell you something else.
00:38For about 30 years, Nia Long had every black man in America thinking he had a chance.
00:46You didn't, but she let you dream.
00:49And we appreciate you for that, Nia, real talk.
00:52But for real, what I love and respect about this woman is that she did it her way.
00:57You know, Hollywood has a way of trying to change you, trying to tell you how to look, tell you
01:03how to talk, tell you who you're supposed to be.
01:05And sometimes even tell you when your time is up.
01:09But Nia, she said, nah, I'm going to be Nia.
01:13And that's why we're still standing here celebrating her after all of these years.
01:18She's beautiful, talented, strong, authentic, and always classy.
01:24That's longevity.
01:25That's black excellence.
01:27And that's a queen.
01:30Now, Nia, let me tell you this.
01:32You've given us so many characters that became a part of our lives.
01:35You made us laugh.
01:36You made us cry.
01:38You made us fall in love.
01:39And you represented our women with beauty, strength, and truth.
01:45Yes, you did.
01:47And you did all that without ever losing you.
01:50That's the part I respect the most.
01:53So today, when we put that thing in the ground that say, Nia Long on Hollywood Boulevard, just know that
01:58that star is not making you Hollywood royalty, because you've been Hollywood royalty.
02:03This is just Hollywood finally putting it in writing.
02:08Now, Nia, you know I love you.
02:10I respect you.
02:12I celebrate you.
02:13And on behalf of everybody whose life, career, dreams, or crushes that you touched along the way, here's a toast
02:21to success and nothing less, who am I?
02:25I'll be whoever you say.
02:27But right now, I'm the sun that shines on your day.
02:31The long way.
02:33N-I-A.
02:34Talk the talk, honey.
02:36Uh-huh.
02:37And walk the walk money, because you earned this one.
02:41Now, let's put this thing in the ground so everybody can know what we already knew.
02:45Nia Long is forever, baby.
02:47Congratulations.
