【Watch Mad Jaxxx Beyond Thunderboobs (2002)】

Mahershala Ali remembered his own experience converting to Islam a couple decades ago after growing up in a devout Christian household.

While picking up the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role SAG award,Watch Mad Jaxxx Beyond Thunderboobs (2002) Ali reminded the crowd that not only accepting people's differences but celebrating diversity is critical in this political climate.

And that's why taking on his role in Moonlightwas healing for Ali.

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

"I was so grateful about ...playing a gentleman who saw a young man folding into himself as a result of the persecution of his community and taking that opportunity to uplift him and tell him he mattered, that he was okay," said Ali."And accept him."

SEE ALSO: 'Big Bang Theory' actor brings #MuslimBan protests to the red carpet Via Giphy

Read the full speech below:

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I think what I have learned from working on Moonlight, you see what happens in persecution. What I was so grateful about and having the opportunity was playing a gentleman who saw a young man folding into himself as a result of the persecution of his community and taking that opportunity to uplift him and tell him he mattered, that he was okay. And accept him. I hope that we do a better job of that.

When we kind of get caught up in the minutiae, details that make us different, there's two ways of seeing that. There's an opportunity to see the texture of that person, the characteristics that make them unique and then there's the opportunity to go to war about it. To say that person is different for me and I don't like you, so let's battle. My mother is an ordained minister. She didn't do backflips when I called her and told her I converted 17 years ago. But we put things to the side and I was able to see her. She is able to see me. We love each other. The love has grown, and that stuff's minutia. It's not that important. 

I want to thank Tarell Alvin McCraney for his courage. I want to thank Barry Jenkins. Just for your insight, brilliancy, direction, and the opportunity. I will always hold that close to me. I want to thank my fellow cast mates. Any one of those young men could be up here holding this. Beautiful work. Plan B, thank you. Peace and blessings be upon you. 

Ali is also nominated for ensemble awards for Moonlightand Hidden Figures.

Via Giphy

.

---

Featured Video For You

---

7 weird things you might not know about the Oscars

---

• Social Good
• Shopping
• Deals
• Life
• Games
• Science
• Entertainment
• Digital Culture

• A Typical Wall Street Republican
• Hands on with 'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges' AR headset lightsaber duels
• Oh sweet sugary god, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming soon … very soon
• Gamers put together 48
• The cicadas aren't invading the U.S.
• 'Game of Thrones' incest hook up: Everything to know
• Remember Fyre Festival? Yeah, well it's officially bankrupt now.
• WikiLeaks mocked after apparent address takeover
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 19: Tips to solve Connections #238
• 'La La Land' director Damien Chazelle lands Netflix Series 'The Eddy'

• Is it 'Thunderbolts*' or *The New Avengers'?
• Best Kindle deal: Save $50 on Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle
• 'Andor' showrunner explains 'the galaxy is watching'
• Best Beats deal: Save $180.04 on Beats Studio Pro headphones at Amazon
• Prime exclusive: Game Boy dupe for $19.99 at Woot
• NYT Connections hints and answers for May 6: Tips to solve 'Connections' #695.
• No, Katy Perry wasn’t at the Met Gala. Yes, that dress was AI.
• Wordle today: The answer and hints for May 6, 2025
• Free Krispy Kreme: How to get free original glazed doughnut
• Best earbuds deal: Save 24% on Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

• Commissioning Misleading Core i9
• Can we stop and talk about this Swarovski crystal
• Google reveals the top things people want to know 'How to' do
• Xiaomi to unveil its latest smartphone the day before Apple's iPhone
• Wordle today: The answer and hints for April 14, 2025
• Hands on with Sony's Xperia Ear Open
• Avril Lavigne says her new music will be here 'before you know it'
• That Nazi who cried doesn't want to be labeled the 'crying Nazi'
• Best Amazon deal: Get a $5 Amazon credit when you spend $30 on home essentials
• Someone fired a crossbow arrow into a cricket pitch, forcing 1,000 people to evacuate

• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve Connections #237
• Apple just confirmed the day it will unveil the iPhone 8
• 'Game of Thrones' incest hook up: Everything to know
• Sphero’s awesome R2
• Norrie vs. Diallo 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
• Justin Bieber now has 100 million Twitter followers. Here's how to celebrate.
• Before and after satellite photos show Harvey's devastation
• New photo gives first peek inside the mysterious Steve Jobs Theater
• Astronomers saw one galaxy impale another. The damage was an eye
• 'Game of Thrones' fan has an epic theory about a clue hidden in Jon Snow's name