H.E.R. Wins Oscar for “Fight For You,” Promises “I’m Always Going to Fight for My People”

“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah took home the Academy Award for best original song during the 2021 Oscars Sunday night.

H.E.R.’s song beat out fellow nominees “Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; “lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se); “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami and “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7.

H.E.R. — whose real name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson — collaborated with D’Mile and Tiara Thomas for the “Fight for You” anthem. During her acceptance speech, the singer was quick to thank her collaborators: “The song wouldn’t be what it was without them.”

The singer later took a moment to express the power music and film has to “tell the truth.” “Musicians, filmmakers I believe we have an opportunity and responsibility, to me, to tell the truth and to write history the way that it was and how it connects us to today and what we see going on in the world today,” she said.

She added, “Knowledge is power, music is power and as long as I’m standing I’m always going to fight for us, I’m always going to fight for my people and fight for what’s right and I think that’s what music does and that’s what storytelling does.”