Janelle Monáe Becomes Inaugural Honoree of the Gender-Neutral Spirit of Soul Prize.
Janelle Monáe, the singer and actress, served as an inspiration for the Soul Train Awards to make the Spirit of Soul Award gender-neutral.
Janelle Monáe was the driving force behind the Soul Train Awards’ decision to make the Spirit of Soul Award gender-neutral.
The 36th Annual Soul Train Awards occurred on Sunday, November 26. Monáe was named the inaugural recipient of the Spirit of Soul Award, previously known as the Lady of Soul Award since 2015, according to KSMB.
However, in recognition of the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s awardee, BET made the decision to rebrand the award. Monáe graciously accepted the honor following two distinct performances, one featuring her single “Float” from the Age of Pleasure and another lively rendition of her song “Champagne Sh*t.”
The award was presented to Monáe by the rap duo Flyana Boss, and in her heartfelt speech, she touched upon her musical influences, the importance of systemic justice, and the significance of being acknowledged by the Soul Train Awards.
She expressed her gratitude, saying, “There’s nothing quite like being recognized by your own—by your own family—you all are family to me. Thank you so much, BET. Thank you so much, Soul Train. Thank you for preserving the essence of soul. Many have redefined that word, and I am deeply honored to have something like this, which continues to evolve and showcase the various facets of what soul can represent.”
Highlighting a lyric from Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” Monáe embraced her nonbinary identity, saying, “In the spirit of Prince, whose words taught me, ‘I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never comprehend.'”
Monáe concluded her speech with a call to action: “As we collectively work to combat the long-standing systemic injustices and unchecked abuses of power, I implore all of us to, in the name of love, allow the spirit of kindness to guide us, let empathy be our compass, and may peace always be our constant companion.”
She added, “May our spirits lead us towards the creation of a safe and equitable world for our community. May we all find true joy and let the spirit guide us, my dear.”
Monáe publicly identified as nonbinary during an appearance on Red Table Talk in April 2022, stating, “If I am from God, I am everything. Yet, I will forever stand in solidarity with women, particularly Black women. However, I recognize that I am more than the confines of a binary definition.”
In a later interview with the Los Angeles Times that same year, she shared her pronouns, saying, “My pronouns are liberating and encompass ‘they/them’ and ‘she/her.'” It’s worth noting that she had previously revealed her pansexual orientation in 2018.
