Queen Latifah Speaks Out on Racial Tensions at Hip Hop Honors: 'Racism Is Still Alive and Kicking'

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Queen Latifah is hoping we can all be the change she wants to see in the world.

The emcee and actress was celebrated during VH1's Hip Hop Honors -- the first ceremony since 2010 -- and used her acceptance speech to comment on the increasing racial tensions regarding police brutality and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

"Listen, we all know that the world and our world, is really tense right now. There's a lot of tension, a lot of angst. There's a lot of hurt, a lot of pain," Latifah told the audience. "I'm hoping that we can somehow manage to channel all of these emotions that we have in a positive way."


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"I don't care how much money or things I have, or Puff has, or Missy has, if I go outside and try to hail a cab and he passes me for the white woman standing right there, that racism is still alive and kicking," she added. "We have to change that. And I'm not blaming the white lady, she needed a cab too. I'm just saying, we've got to change this attitude. And we must demand respect as women."

The 46-year-old music legend expanded on that last point, exclaiming that women "build hip-hop" and went on to explain, "We always trying to change the world for the better, for female rappers particularly."

Queen Latifah also performed an iconic medley of her hits, alongside Da Brat and Monie Love:

Following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Beyoncé was just one of many artists to speak out, sharing an emotional open letter about police brutality and saying, "Hate will not win." Hear more in the video below.