Without a host, the 2019 Oscars were more reliant than ever on presenters and winners to deliver entertaining and memorable moments. Luckily, many of the night's stars came through, and the acceptance speeches — some of which accompanied historic wins — were particularly poignant. Click through to read the best quotes from the 2019 Oscars acceptance speeches. (Photos via Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images + Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Ruth E. Carter: After receiving nominations in 1993 and 1998 for Malcolm X and Amistad, Carter finally won the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Black Panther on Sunday night. She is the first Black woman in the Academy's history to win the category.
"This has been a long time coming," she said as she took the stage to accept her award. "Marvel may have created the first Black superhero, but through costume design, we turned him into an African king. It's been my life's honor to create costumes. Thank you to the Academy, and thank you for honoring African royalty and the empowered way women can look and lead on screen. … Our genius director, Ryan Coogler, you are a guiding force. Thank you for your trust and understanding my role in telling the African-American story. … This is for my 97-year-old mother watching in Massachusetts. Mom, thank you for teaching me about people and their stories. You are the original superhero." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Hannah Beachler: Black Panther racked up another historic victory with Beachler's Production Design award, which made her the first African-American to be nominated for and then win the category. "I stand here stronger than I was yesterday," Beachler said in her speech as she fought back tears. "I stand here with agency and self-worth because of Ryan Coogler, who not only made me a better designer, [but] a better storyteller, a better person. I stand here because of this man who offered me a different perspective of life, who offered me a safe space, who's patient and gave me air, humanity, and brotherhood. Thank you, Ryan, I love you."
She went on to share a message of hope for everyone watching: "I give this strength to all of those who come next, to keep going, to never give up. And when you think it's impossible, just remember to say this piece of advice I got from a very wise woman: I did my best, and my best is good enough." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Alfonso Cuarón: Accepting his award for his Best Foreign Language Film for Roma, Cuarón paid tribute to his Mexican heritage. "Cinema, at its best, builds bridges to other cultures," he said. "As we cross these bridges, this experience, and these new shapes and these new faces, we need to realize why they may be strange, [why] they are not unfamiliar. We need to understand how much we have in common," he continued. "This film would have not been possible without the specific colors that make me who I am. Gracias famila y gracias Mexico." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, and Rodney Rothman: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, but the award was just a bonus for the filmmakers, who said they felt the real victory was the reaction to the representative superhero movie. "When we hear that somebody's kid was watching the movie and turned to them and said, 'He looks like me,' or 'They speak Spanish like us,' we feel we've already won,” writer and co-producer Phil Lord said.
"To our audience, thank you so much," Ramsay continued. "We love you and we just want you all to know: We see you. You're powerful. This world needs you, okay? This world needs you. So, please, we're all counting on you. Thank you." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Domee Shi: Bao director Shi, the first woman to helm a Pixar short, had a message for other young women who aspire to become animators. "To all the nerdy girls out there who hide behind your sketchbooks, don't be afraid to tell your stories to the world," she said as she accepted the Best Animated Short award alongside producer Becky Neiman-Cobb. "You're gonna freak people out, but you'll probably connect with them, too, and that's an amazing feeling to have." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton: Zehtabchi and Berton won the Best Documentary Short Oscar for their film Period. End of Sentence., about the period shame faced by women in India, and they could not have been more excited. "I'm not crying because I'm on my period or anything!" director Zehtabchi said excitedly. "I can't believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!"
Berton, who produced the film, went on to speak about the inspiration for the documentary. "This film began because high school students here and our brave partners at Action India wanted to make a difference, a human rights difference," she explaind. "I share this with teachers and with students around the world. A period should end a sentence. Not a girl's education." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Spike Lee: Lee finally won his first-ever Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman, and the revered director gave a spirited speech, which started with him telling the producers not to start the 90-second clock on him. "The word today is 'irony.' The date, the 24th. The month, February, which also happens to be the shortest month of the year, which also happens to be Black History Month. The year, 2019. The year, 1619. History. Her story. 1619. 2019. 400 years," he began.
"Four hundred years. Our ancestors were stolen from Mother Africa and brought to Jamestown, Virginia, enslaved. Our ancestors worked the land from can't see in the morning to can't see at night," he continued, before going on to pay tribute to his own grandmother, who "saved 50 years of social security checks" to put him through college.
"Before the world tonight, I give praise to our ancestors who have built this country into what it is today along with the genocide of its native people," he said. "We all connect with our ancestors. We will have love and wisdom regained, we will regain our humanity. It will be a powerful moment. The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let's all mobilize, let's all be on the right side of history, let's choose love over hate, let's do the right thing!" (Photo via Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)
Lady Gaga: "This is hard work. I've worked hard for a long time. It's not about winning. It's about not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it," an emotional Gaga said as she accepted her Oscar for Best Original Song for "Shallow," from A Star Is Born. "It's not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down or you're beaten up. It's about how many times you stand up and are brave and you keep on going." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Rami Malek: Malek's role as Queen singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody made him the first Arab-American to win the Oscar for Best Actor. "To anyone struggling with their [identity] and trying to find their voice, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself," he said. "The fact that I'm celebrating this story with you tonight is proof that we're longing for stories like this. I am the son of immigrants from Egypt, a first-generation American. And part of my story is being written right now. And I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you, and everyone who believed in me for this moment. It’s something I will treasure for the rest of my life." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Alfonso Cuarón (Again): The Roma director stepped to the podium several times at the 2019 Oscars, and when he accepted his award for Best Director, he turned the spotlight on the domestic workers and Indigenous women that his film celebrates. "I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a film that was centered around an Indigenous woman," he began. "One of the 70 million domestic workers around the world without worker rights, a character that has historically been relegated to the background of cinema. As artists, our job is to look where others don't. This responsibility becomes much more important when we're being encouraged to look away." (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
This Jewelry Designer Infuses '90s Hip Hop, Caribbean Spice + Vibrant Hues into Everything She Makes
Vibrant hues, '90s-era boldness, and raw artisanal beauty — these are just a few of the characteristics that make the work of today's creative crush truly swoonworthy. Named for a potent Caribbean pepper, Tracey-Renee Hubbard's Scotchbonnet is a gorgeous line of earrings and accessories made by hand with love, thoughtfulness and a resolute passion for the art of making.
Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co and super fan of Scotchbonnet! Like so many creative connections these days, I first connected with designer Tracey-Renee when she DM'ed the @britandco IG account and we featured her work in a story roundup of BIPOC makers. A few weeks later, she applied and won a scholarship to our first session of the Selfmade program where Brit and I both had the privilege of mentoring and working with Tracey-Renee on her brand, her business plan, and her mission. Since then she's been awarded a minority creative grant from JOANN Fabrics, and seriously upleveled her production process thanks to a collaboration with Glowforge. (PS: B+C readers can get 20% off their own Glowforge Pro by clicking here!)
Now I am thrilled to be able to share more about this brilliant maker's journey, inspiration and creative process in this edition of Creative Crushin'.
Anjelika Temple: Before we get into learning all about your creative inspiration, tell us a little about your background.
Tracey-Renee Hubbard: I was born and raised in Wisconsin. Yep, lots of cheese and cows. Growing up in Wisconsin right outside of Milwaukee provided me with a surprisingly diverse and eclectic foundation. My parents stressed the importance of academics, but they didn't believe that excelling at school needed to come at the expense of creativity or other hobbies. Art, music, books and softball were a big chunk of my childhood. Crafting and creating have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
One of my favorite shows to watch when I was growing up was "A Different World." It was about the college experience at a fictitious HBCU (Historically Black College/University) called Hillman College. Watching that show inspired me to go to Florida A&M University (an HBCU) where I received a BS in Business Management and an MBA.
The world changes quickly and I love learning new things! After completing my MBA program, I studied graphic design, multimedia art and completed the Merchandise Product Development program at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in San Francisco. My academic and professional experiences have given me the opportunity to live and work in lots of interesting places; but for now I am based in the San Francisco Bay area.
Anj: Did you always know that you wanted to be a professional artist/creative?
Tracey-Renee: Yep, but for a long time I was afraid to do it because of the "starving artist" stigma (all lies, btw). I tried to compartmentalize my creative practices as just a "hobby", but when something is truly in your spirit the desire never really goes away…and so now here I am!
Anj: What do you love about making things? What keeps the spark going for you?
Tracey-Renee: I've been inspired to create for as long as I can remember! I've always been fascinated by color, texture, travel and cultural connection. I grew up watching my grandmother quilt, sew and mend garments, I saw my Mom create beautiful home décor and heirloom holiday decorations and spent time in my Dad's workshop. Being surrounded by unique handmade items that hold special stories has fueled my passion for being a designer and maker.
Anj: Like so many artists, you've got a day job in addition to your creative hustle. Tell us about your career path.
Tracey-Renee: My first "real job" was in pharmaceutical sales and marketing. I loved the left brain/right brain mix of processing all the data and scientific information and then finding creative ways to relay that information to doctors and health care providers. That role really opened my eyes to the power of messaging and visual communication tools which ultimately led to me returning to school to study digital design and multimedia arts. I've had fun using my marketing and digital design skills in several different industries. I currently work as the Director of Marketing and Creative Strategy for a candy company. I spend a lot of time working in the digital realm – I think most of us do- and that makes me really appreciate the time I spend making handmade jewelry for Scotchbonnet.
Anj: Tell me more about your brand Scotchbonnet! How would you describe your brand's mission?
Tracey-Renee: I want to make pieces that are cherished - special but not so "precious" that they sit in a box stored away for special occasions that are far and few between. My accessories are known for their bold shapes, bright colors and eye-catching patterns. Each piece is handmade with love (I hope my customers can feel it when they wear their Scotchbonnet accessories)!
Scotchbonnet jewelry has been described as "conversation starters" and I love the fact that they connect people and get them to start conversing. I am excited about elevating those conversations by creating capsule collections connected to social causes; that way the chat can go beyond just "cute earrings, where'd you get them?"
Anj: At Brit + Co, we are enamored with bright colors, patterns and geometric shapes -- and clearly, you are too! How did you hone in on your aesthetic?
Tracey-Renee: I chose the name Scotchbonnet for my jewelry brand because scotch bonnet peppers add a distinctively potent spice to Caribbean food and I feel that my jewelry has the same vibe. My accessories are known for vibrant hues, bold shapes and eye-catching patterns. I am inspired by the flashiness of 90s hip-hop, the simplicity of modern luxury, and the raw beauty of artisan goods from the African Diaspora. My aesthetic continues to evolve based on the things I love, the places I've been and the community I want to serve.
Anj: We LOVED mentoring you + helping your business grow during our first Selfmade session. What were your main takeaways from the program and experience?
Tracey-Renee: Selfmade helped me understand the importance of having a clear vision and trusting my intuition. It can be inspirational watching other entrepreneurs "hustling and winning" on their social media feeds, but without clarity about my vision that "inspiration" can be overwhelming and make things confusing. It's easy to confuse movement with progress – Selfmade helped me craft an action plan that ensures each step builds momentum and accelerates me toward my goals. Selfmade also provided me with a vibrant, uplifting community of founders, entrepreneurs and go-getters.
Anj: When you get creatively blocked or burnt out, how do you reset? Do you have tips you can share?
Tracey-Renee: I take a break. We're inundated with "hustle culture" that can make us feel guilty for taking a break, but at the end of the day we're of no value to anyone when we're burnt out. When I have a creative block I usually log off for a while… there's this duality with the internet where on the surface it seems to be an endless pool of inspiration, but in reality everything that's on the internet has already been filtered or curated by someone else. Sometimes it's helpful to see things through a new lens and find inspiration in ("real" physical) books, at a museum or out in nature. Seeing things in a new light from a different angle can be a really refreshing creative jolt.
Anj: What does your workspace look like? What tools do you use and how has it changed over the years?
Tracey-Renee: I'd describe it as "choreographed chaos". It's organized enough so that I can be efficient with the administrative parts of my business like: inventory management, packing and shipping. It's creative enough so that it still feels inspiring, and it's tidy enough that it doesn't feel overwhelming to sit down and start working. It smells like coconut or tropical fruit (thanks to my candles) and it sounds like hip-hop, dance hall, soca or afrobeats.
The primary mediums I work with are wood, paint, glass beads and recently brass. With that being said my paint brushes, needle & thread and jeweler's saw are always within close reach. The most recent addition to my studio is my Glowforge Pro 3D laser printer; it is a game changer! It shrunk my product development cycle time infinitely. Prior to the Glowforge the process was time consuming and costly; now, I can literally "print" a new design within minutes of sketching out an idea. It's also been awesome when it comes to inventory management and sustainability. I no longer have to worry about over-producing or wasting materials; I can make exactly what I need right when I need it without any waste. The Glowforge can make millions of things and I'm excited about trying new design ideas in the future. I have a ton of sketches and inspo photos on my magnet board and in my notebooks waiting to be explored. (ICYMI: B+C readers can get 20% off their own Glowforge Pro by clicking here!)
Anj: What advice do you have for emerging artists and designers just getting started? What advice do you have for creatives struggling to find their unique voice?
Tracey-Renee: Start with your "why" and not your "what". Your "why" will be the secret weapon that competitors will never be able to touch. Once you have that part figured out; dive in! I think that now is a really exciting time for creatives. The rise of entrepreneurship powered by social media has removed a lot of barriers that used to make creative careers seem out of reach. Protect your work, but don't be afraid to put yourself (and your stuff!) out there. Connect with other artists and build a community, it's so important to have a sounding board for difficult times and a crew with whom you can celebrate your successes.
Anj: What's next for your brand?
Tracey-Renee: Scaling and growing in a way that feels authentic. I have new colors and new products coming soon and I am super excited about that! My upcoming premium capsule collections are close to my heart; designing jewelry inspired by social causes and having a "give back" component means the world to me. I want to keep having fun with my brand, sharing joy with fun colors and patterns and infusing love into each handmade piece.
Find yourself the perfect pair of fresh, colorful earrings at HeyScotchbonnet.com, and be sure to follow Tracey-Renee on Instagram at @heyscotchbonnet and @tracey.renee.