Arthur gave an emotional speech while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards on Sunday.
“It’s definitely not easy getting here, but it’s worth it,” the singer-songwriter told the audience while accepting the award.
The 45-year-old singer is known for hits like “Yeah!” You make me want it.
Usher also won the award for Best R&B and Hip-Hop Artist at the ceremony.
In his 15-minute acceptance speech, he said: “This lifetime achievement award, I don’t know, man, is it too early to receive it? Because I’m still running and shooting like I was when I was eight years old.
The singer went on to talk about his father leaving the family when he was a child.
“I tried to understand the name this man gave me, but it didn’t stick because he didn’t love me,” he said.
“You have to have a big heart to understand the real pitfalls and hardships of being black in America, and my father, he was a product of that.”
He also reflected on what it means to be a father now.
“This is the year of the father. Stand up for your daughters and your sons and lead,” he told the audience at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“It’s important to understand that fatherhood is so important.
“To all the fathers at home or in the audience tonight, I want you to stand up for me for two seconds.
As several men in the audience stood up, Arthur said: “We don’t get the chance to say enough, ‘Dad, I did it,’ so this one is dedicated to all the men out there who are sons. General, and an inspiration to our future black leaders, our young people.
Arthur also said he was “turning over a new leaf” and addressed the topic of forgiveness.
“We have to be willing to forgive, we have to be willing to open up,” he said.
“I’m telling you, you stand in front of a man who has to forgive a man who never was. Look what I did with it. Look what I was able to ‘bring in’. But this is real, this is who we are What makes us human, this is what makes us women and men.
The award was presented to him by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
An all-star tribute to the singer follows a montage of career highlights, including clips from his teenage years and his recent Super Bowl performance.
Artists such as Childish Gambino, Keke Palmer and Summer Walker all performed one of Usher’s songs.
Just a few months later, Usher gained recognition He performed his famous halftime show in the Super Bowl.
Other highlights of the event include Will Smith debuting new single “You Can Make It”.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but no matter what’s going on in your life right now, I’m here to tell you, you can do it,” he told the audience before his performance.
The Black Entertainment Television Awards have been held since 2001 to celebrate black talent in various industries.
