00:03Nia, would you please join me on stage?
00:23The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City of Los Angeles,
00:28and on behalf of our Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez,
00:31we'd like to present this resolution to you, Ms. Nia Long.
01:24And now for the moment we've all been waiting for.
01:27And now for the moment we've all been waiting for.
01:28Let's hear from our honoree, Ms. Nia Long.
01:30The microphone is closed.
01:40I think I need some tissue before I start.
01:46Just in case.
01:48It was a long glam morning.
01:51Thank you, baby.
01:56This is such an incredible day.
01:59Thank you all so much for being here.
02:03I am, I'm just really touched and I'm emotional and I'm happy and I'm just very grateful and thankful.
02:13I want to thank my Lionsgate family for your generous support, led by the amazing Adam Fockelson.
02:21We started many years ago with the best man and I'm just so happy to partner with you here again.
02:31And I know that it is because of you that I'm standing here and that this amazing event is happening.
02:36So thank you.
02:40And the team, Helen, Amanda, Nassim, thank you so much.
02:46To my family and friends who traveled across the country to be here.
02:51I love you so very much.
02:53My Auntie Brenda from Detroit, Michigan.
02:59I love you, Auntie.
03:05Graham King, thank you so much for your kind words.
03:11If I could make every movie with you, I would.
03:16Thank you for your vision, your passion and your fearlessness.
03:20We made a film that brought joy to everyone around the world in the name of Michael Jackson and his
03:25incredible legacy.
03:28Thank you for creating space for me to bring a quiet grace to my portrayal of Katherine Jackson.
03:36Thank you to the entire JK Films team.
03:39And Lydia, you already know how I feel about you.
03:43I love you, girl.
03:47Antoine Fuqua, you were such a champion every day on set.
03:53And the magic you brought to this film was truly incredible.
03:57I am forever grateful to my co-stars, Coleman and Jafar, who are both working and out there in the
04:05world being movie stars.
04:08Being able to play your wife and mother was a privilege.
04:12And we will forever be family.
04:15Snoop.
04:16Now you know that jacket took me out.
04:21I may need to borrow it.
04:27I've known you for over 25 years.
04:30Brothers, you are my brother for life.
04:33You always check in with me and the boys when it matters the most.
04:39Thank you for showing up for me in the way that you do.
04:43Thank you for the decades of music that tell our stories and remind me to keep it gangsta as needed.
04:55I love you, brother.
04:58Thanks to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Anna Martinez for this incredible honor and making a lifelong dream come
05:05true.
05:06Angelique Jackson, thank you for emceeing today.
05:10My amazing team, Rhett, Nancy, Jason, Steven, Lee, and Lori, I can't do anything without you.
05:19Thank you for your partnership.
05:28You know, I've been thinking a lot about what this star symbolizes and what each of its five points represents
05:38in my life.
05:40Each of its five points holds my center of gravity.
05:45Each of its five points have anchored me and provided a place where I find love beyond measure and a
05:55safe haven to manifest my wildest dreams.
05:58My five points are spoken for.
06:04At the top of this star is God, my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ, who governs everything I do
06:12while gently encouraging me to stand strong in my purpose with grit and grace.
06:19I truly understand that God made a promise over my life long before I was old enough to understand it.
06:27Everything I have accomplished has been done inside of that promise.
06:35And at the top right is my mommy.
06:56Tillita Long, an artist, a singer, and the best Tati my children could ever ask for.
07:10Mommy, can you please stand?
07:22You are selfless and kind at times to a fault.
07:29You are my right hand and I'm your protector.
07:34There has never been a day when I needed you that you didn't show up for me.
07:41I remember the hard days living in South Central LA when you drove the RTD bus and I was a
07:49latchkey kid.
07:52Money was scarce and opportunities to thrive seemed to pass us by.
07:58I remember the days we'd walk down Hollywood Boulevard to the only New York style pizza spot in LA.
08:06While reading the cemented names of stars aloud on this very boulevard, you told me I would have a star
08:14one day.
08:15And here we are.
08:24It was you who took me to my very first acting class to every audition and wiped every tear of
08:30rejection.
08:31But somehow we made it through the challenges and the heartbreaks.
08:37I share this star with you because there isn't any part of my story that doesn't circle back to your
08:43bravery and unconditional love.
08:46I love you mommy and I wouldn't be here without you.
08:55To the left top point of this star holds two of my favorite people on the planet and my deepest
09:03loves.
09:05Maasai and Kez, thank you for being my soldiers.
09:11Thank you for giving me the space to do the work that I enjoy so very much.
09:18For every season and every reason I will forever be your anchor.
09:25A voice of truth and a place where love holds your hand.
09:31There are parts of me that belong to no one but the two of you.
09:39I love you so much, even though I know I get on your nerves sometimes.
09:44To Ime and Maasai Senior, thank you for being here to celebrate this moment with me and our two young
09:51kings.
09:51We are forever family.
09:55At the bottom right of the star lives the loves of my life who are no longer here in the
10:01physical realm.
10:03My grandmother, Pearl Gilman, an immigrant from the island of Grenada who taught me everything I know about beauty and
10:13being a lady.
10:14Skills that have helped me shape every character I've ever portrayed.
10:18And my grandfather, Clyde Gilman, an immigrant from the island of Trinidad who would always remind me to give the
10:26crowd something to talk about.
10:29And my father, Daughtry Long, who gifted me with a poetic heart and the burning desire to find the truth
10:37and purpose in everything that I do.
10:40To my brother, John Singleton, who saw something in me I was yet to discover.
10:51I can still hear your laughter echoing through my mind.
10:56Your footprint on this industry will never be duplicated.
11:02And finally to the ancestors who fought the fights I wasn't equipped to fight.
11:07In order for me to have the opportunities and freedom to be all of myself in every room I enter
11:14and every screen I grace.
11:18At the bottom left point lives a sisterhood, a vibrant, beautiful sisterhood where I fellowship with women in my life
11:27who hold me down, who keep my secrets, who cheer me on.
11:32I love you so much.
11:35Thank you for being the brilliant minded voices of reason for every season in my life.
11:46Nia Long is strong baby, whoever said that.
11:54That's what Lorenz Tate always says.
11:56When we're on take 95 and we've been making out for two hours, he's like, Nia Strong, let's go.
12:05Okay.
12:05And at the nucleus of this star is a force who once doubted herself.
12:13A girl from Brooklyn with Caribbean roots who doesn't suffer fools and expects transparency from everyone who loves her.
12:24She has never followed the crowd and would rather take the scenic route to success.
12:30She loves deeply.
12:32And if you're lucky enough to have her in your life, she will have your back by any means necessary.
12:40She is me, Nia Talita Long.
12:47A mother, a daughter, a friend, a storyteller, a writer, a director, a producer, and a voice for my community.
12:58As I continue my journey alongside my five points of gravity, I will twinkle and shine, I will expand, I
13:13will inspire, and represent the unique magical mystery that can only be found in the essence of a black woman.
13:24Thank you again to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for cementing my name with a gold star as a symbol
13:31of hope and inspiration for the next young girl with a dream walking down Hollywood Boulevard enjoying a slice of
13:40New York style cheese pizza with her mother.
13:43Thank you guys, thank you.
13:45Thank you so much.
13:47Thank you so much.
13:49Thank you so much.
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