WTA superstar Serena Williams was awarded the Jackie Robinson Sports Award at the NAACP Awards on Saturday. The honor memoirs baseball icon Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. The accolade recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to sports and the African-American community. It is only natural that Williams was a recipient nominee in 2023.

Williams was presented with the award by her dear friend, actress Kerry Washington. After being honored with the accolade, Williams expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone who was a part of the decision. However, true to her nature, Serena did not forget to make a snarky comment taking a dig at herself in her speech. If anything, this only makes her more loved by her fans.

Serena Williams was trophy-less for a while

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has been an advocate for women’s rights and gender equality in sports. She has also been active in philanthropic work, notably through the Serena Williams Foundation, which focuses on education and providing assistance to underprivileged communities.

In her acceptance speech, Williams jokes, “I haven’t held up a trophy in a long time.” She then laughed and pretended to not know how to hold a trophy. She joked around with it and asked the audience, “Do I do it like this?”

She further went on to thank Kerry Washington. According to her, it was a great honor receiving the honor from a dear friend. “I am incredibly grateful for your incredibly kind words and your unwavering support over the years.”

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The NAACP Image Awards also recognized the accomplishments of other notable African-Americans. Actor Michael B. Jordan won the Entertainer of the Year, while Issa Rae won the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Insecure. Williams was undoubtedly one of the showstoppers in her gorgeous black outfit!

Serena thanks the NAACP

During her acceptance speech at the NAACP Image Awards, Serena Williams expressed her gratitude towards the NAACP. She believes that their organization’s efforts make a significant difference in the lives of African Americans. She went on to thank the NAACP for their contributions in areas such as healthcare, education, sports, and the economy.

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Williams also expressed her admiration for her fellow honorees at the event, saying that the awards ceremony continued to acknowledge the contributions of those who pursued their craft in various fields, including television, film, music, and literature. She expressed her excitement at being in the same room with so many accomplished individuals and shared that she felt like a fangirl around artists who had played her favorite characters in various stories.