Once again, Denzel Washington has demonstrated why he’s one of the greatest ever to do it.
The 62-year-old actor appeared at the 48th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday to accept the Best Movie Actor award for his role in “Fences.” Washington, who remains one of the most lauded black actors in Hollywood, had some inspirational words to say about making it in the movie industry while black.
“I am particularly proud and happy about the young filmmakers, actors, singers, writers, producers that are coming up behind my generation,” Washington said.
The actor then gave a particular shout out to to Barry Jenkins, the writer and director of "Moonlight," who has been nominated for three Academy Awards this year.
"Young people understand, this young man made 10, 15, 20 short films before he got the opportunity to make ‘Moonlight’, so never give up," Washington added. "Without commitment you’ll never start but more importantly without consistency you’ll never finish.”
Washington went on to emphasize that “ease is a much greater threat to progress than hardship,” citing that the careers of Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, and Viola Davis would not have been successful if their rise had been without obstacles.
“If it were easy,” he concluded, “There would be no Denzel.” Preach.
