Regina King opened the 2021 Oscars by giving a powerful speech about the reality of being a Black mom.
The actress, 46, gave the speech in Los Angeles yesterday (April 25) as she presented the first Oscar of the ceremony, where her film, One Night in Miami..., was also nominated for three awards.
"It has been quite a year and we're still smack dab in the middle of it," King began. "We are mourning the loss of so many. And I have to be honest, if things had gone differently this past week in Minneapolis, I may have traded in my heels for marching boots."
She continued: "Now, I know that a lot of you people at home want to reach for the remote when you feel like Hollywood is preaching to you. But as a mother of a Black son, I know the fear that so many live with - and no amount of fame or fortune changes that."
Watch King's powerful speech below:King's powerful words come after Derek Chauvin, 46, was found guilty last week of the murder of George Floyd - a death that sparked mass protests across the US following Floyd's fatal arrest in May.
At the trial in Minnesota last week (April 20), the former police officer was found guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and he now faces up to 40 years behind bars.
Chauvin is currently being held at the maximum-security prison, Oak Park Heights, as he awaits his sentencing on June 2.
He is currently being held in isolation, The New York Times reports, and is allowed out for one hour's exercise each day.
Following the verdict, Floyd's 52-year-old sister, LaTonya, said that she would be "praying" for Chauvin in an interview with Good Morning Britain.
"I pray for him, I pray for him, I do and I’m going to continue to pray for him," she said. "In his heart, he wasn't guilty, he wasn't really expecting that. He has nothing to apologize for because he didn't think he was wrong."
