Calls for End of Hate, Racism at MTV Awards

 

This is What’s Trending Today.

The MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles included performances by popular musicians of the last 12 months. A number of musicians also denounced racism¹ and discrimination after recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Katy Perry hosted the event featuring singers and music groups, including Kendrick Lamar, Fifth Harmony, Miley Cyrus, and Lorde.

Lamar opened the show with a hot version of his song, “Humble” that included back-up performers dancing on a wall of fire. They wore special suits that kept them from getting burned.

“Humble” went on to win one of the night’s biggest awards: Best Hip-Hop Video.

Critics, including Rob Sheffield of the music magazine Rolling Stone, wrote about the show. Sheffield said Perry’s attempts at comedy in her role of host fell flat and her performance of her song “Swish Swish” felt “labored and witless.”

He was more excited to see British rock singer Rod Stewart’s appearance during the band DNCE’s version of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Stewart first recorded the song in 1978 and joined Joe Jonas on stage.

Sheffield was also impressed by Lorde, who could not sing because of an illness. Lorde came on stage and danced along to a recorded version of her song “Homemade Dynamite².”

Other performances of note came from the British girl-group Fifth Harmony and new rap artist Cardi B. Fifth Harmony performed its hit “Down” without Camila Cabello, who left the group in late 2016. Cardi B impressed fans with “Bodak Yellow,” one of the top rap songs of the summer.

The music event also featured political comments from singers and special guests.

Robert Wright Lee is a religious leader and a descendant of Confederate Civil War general Robert E. Lee. He introduced Susan Bro, saying he is “working to confront racism and white supremacy³.”

Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer. She was killed when a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of activists⁴ protesting their presence Charlottesville, Virginia.

Bro presented the Fight Against the System Award and announced the Heather Heyer Foundation, which will help people fight hate.

Michael Jackson’s eldest⁵ daughter, Paris, presented the Best Pop Video award to Fifth Harmony. She also condemned⁶ the “violence, hatred⁷ and discrimination” from the white supremacist groups.

Singer and actor Jared Leto honored singers Chis Cornell and Chester Bennington, who committed suicide over the summer.

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Dan Friedell.

Words in This Story

feature – n. an interesting or important part

host – n. a person who talks to guests on a television or radio show

witless – adj. very foolish or stupid

descendant – n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past

white supremacist – n. a person who believes that the white race is better than all other races and should have control over all other races

confront – v. to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way

1 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

2 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

3 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。