The BET Awards took place over the weekend, with many performances on the night dedicated to Prince, as well as Beyonce and Kendrick Lemar taking to the stage for their rendition of her new single "Freedom".

Among all of the celebrations, one of the awards from the Black Entertainment Television organisation was the Humanitarian Award, which was given to Jesse Williams, an actor perhaps best known over here for his roles in Grey's Anatomy or Cabin In The Woods.

Outside of his entertainment career though, Williams is the youngest board member of The Advancement Project, a civil rights think tank and advocacy group, as well as a vocal activist for the entire black community. 

Once he took to the stage, Williams gave a thoroughly impassioned speech about the state of the nation, about the members of the black community who have been killed by the police, and about the members of the entertainment community who also must do their part to help change the sitation.

Later in the evening, when being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, actor Samuel L Jackson commented on Williams: "Jesse's the closest thing I've heard to a 1960s activist. That brother is right, and he is true."

The conversation then turned towards the upcoming Presidential election, with Jackson saying: "Make sure you vote, and take eight people with you to vote. Don't get tricked like they got tricked in London."

Best Actress winner Taraji P Henson (Empire) echoed Jackson's statement: "I'm really not political but it's serious out here. And for those who think, 'Oh, he's not gonna win.' Think again. So we really need to pull together and turn this country around."