Canada’s first all-Black awards ceremony was a big moment for the two brothers who made it happen. On Sunday night, The Black Academy, co-founded by actors Stephan James and Shamier Anderson, held the inaugural Legacy Awards, honouring Black Canadian talent. READ MORE: Shamier Anderson And Stephan James To Host The Legacy Awards, Announce Performers And Presenters ET Canada’s Carlos Bustamante caught up with the duo on the red carpet at the event, which they also co-hosted, and asked what it felt like to see The Legacy Awards become a reality after years of planning. “Surreal.
I mean, truly,” Anderson said. James added, “Surreal, unreal. We can’t believe that this little idea that we had in our heads two-and-a-half years ago has now come to fruition and we’re all here celebrating Black excellence.
So we’re incredibly pleased.” Asked about the incredible energy in the air at the awards, Anderson said, “There’s power in fellowship, and you know it’s about Black joy tonight, and communion and community.
It’s not lost on us, the power in numbers, and this is just the catalyst of what’s to come, and what has been built from the greats that we’ve watched over the years.” Given that part of the purpose of awards is to inspire future generations of Black Canadians to strive for excellence, Bustamante wondered if there was anybody on the guest list who the brothers grew up idolizing themselves. “k-os,” Anderson said, without missing a beat. “Man, definitely k-os, but Kardinal Offishall is in the building,” James added, “and I just saw Deborah Cox, which made me kind of geek out.” Sounding extra excited, Anderson chimed in, “They all said yes [to being invited]!
Read more on etcanada.com