Filipino-American singer H.E.R. took home an Oscar award on Sunday in Hollywood (Monday in Manila) for her song “Fight For You,” which was featured in the movie “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
During her acceptance speech, the Grammy winner, whose real name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, admitted she did not expect to win the Best Original Song award, adding she was “just grateful to be part of such an important story.”
“Fight For You” bested “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”; “lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”; “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami”; and “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” to win the Academy Award.
H.E.R said she hoped her Oscar win, which was considered an upset by pundits, would inspire other Black-Filipino girls.
The 23-year-old said she was happy to represent that community.
“I can’t believe I’m here, you know? So I just hope that there’s another little girl out there, whoever, you know, going, ‘I can do that, too. I can be up there too one day,’” she said.
H.E.R. also addressed her fellow musicians and various filmmakers about what she believes is their collective responsibility and opportunity that is to tell the truth.
“Musicians, filmmakers, I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility, to me, to tell the truth, and to write history the way that it was and how it connects us to today and what we see going on in the world today,” she said.
“Knowledge is power. Music is power. As long as I’m standing, I am always going to fight for us, I am always going to fight for my people and what’s right. I think that’s what music does. That’s what storytelling does,” she added.