The 2018 Video Music Awards was a night to remember with incredible performances from this year's top charting artists like Nicki Minaj and Shawn Mendes. However, my favorite part of the award ceremony was the themes it tackled— immigration and feminism.
Earlier this year, Trump made controversial headlines with his "zero tolerance" policy. It left hundreds of immigrant children without their parents, and people questioning whether the "correct" thing to do was the most moral thing to do. Logic, a rapper known to be outspoken on social issues, performed "One Day" with Ryan Tedder at this year's VMAs on the immigration crisis. Logic and Tedder brought many immigration children (of various backgrounds) on stage and reunited them with their parents. The children wore t-shirts that read "We are all human beings" and Logic's t-shirt read "F*ck the wall".
Logic's emotional performance puts a face to the word "immigrant" and reminds us that hundreds of children are left without parents. It challenges Trump's policy and questions on whether or not we can bear to see an 11-year-old without a mother or father.
Nicki Minaj won Best Hip-Hop and performed "Majesty," "Ganja Burns," "Barbie Dreams," and "Fefe" from her new album "Queen." The performance was filled with energy and the crowd can even be heard singing along. Minaj's performance that night showed that she's still at the top of her game.
Ariana Grande continued the night by winning Best Pop and then performing her single "God is a Woman." The hit single was controversial in several religious communities but remained an empowering female anthem for many.
Grande's performance started with various women along a table depicting the "Last Supper" and showcasing the power of women. Not only did the performance consist of all-female performers, it had a range of diversity showing women from all different backgrounds. It brings a strong message that women of any color can be leaders in a society dominated and usually catered to white males.
Although the ratings for this year's VMAs was the lowest it's ever been, the performances were iconic and drew a lot of attention. Overall, the 2018 VMAs brought further awareness of the immigration crisis and positive messages about female empowerment.
