2018 BET Awards Nominees Unexpectedly Are Students: See the Humanitarian Heroes Shortlist

BET 2018 looks a lot different from what we’re used to, and here’s why. Traditionally, the Black Entertainment Television awards follows the “for us by us” principle celebrating black people in entertainment industry. However, the accents have been shifted in the light of what’s going on in the USA and around the world. The Typical Student team previously told you about 6 US Student Gun-Control Movement Leaders You MUST KNOW About, now it's time to award the heroes!

On a yearly basis, the BET Humanitarian Award goes to celebrities for their philanthropic contributions. Alicia Keys, Jesse Williams, Chance the Rapper, and Dwayne Wade were among the past award honorees. This year, BET’s focus is on REAL people! And, believe it or not, students got nominated!

Who Are 2018 BET Humanitarian Heroes Award Nominees?

The 2018 BET Humanitarian Heroes Award list includes six people, and none of them are celebrities. They are students and common people who have left a mark on the black culture to be awarded as first-ever Humanitarian Heroes for the “acts of bravery, resilience, and resistance.”

Surprisingly, three out of six nominees are … students! So, meet the heroes.

Anthony Borges, 15

One of the Parkland shooting survivors, Anthony barricaded a classroom door and used his body as a shield to protect about 20 fellow students. The student was shot 5 times, who escaped the incident unharmed owing to him.

Naomi Wadler, 15

One of the student activists who led a group of her peers during the March for Our Lives on March 14. Naomi is a student at George Mason Elementary School, Alexandria, VA and is a fighter for women’s rights.

Justin Blackman, 16

Was the only out of 700 students at Wilson Preparatory Academy in Wilson, North Carolina, to support the national walkout against gun violence. Justin stood in the street for 17 minutes all alone, disappointed nobody was there to join him, and captured it on video, which later went viral.

Shaun King, 38

Columnist for The Intercept and the Writer-In-Residence at Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project, he consistently confronts racism at the interpersonal and systemic level.

James Shaw Jr., 29

Received the award for tackling the gunman who opened fire in Antioch, TN, at a Waffle House restaurant.  

Mamoudou Gassama, 22

Climbed the side of a building to rescue a small child who was dangling from a balcony in Paris. He was dubbed Malian hero SPIDERMAN for his amazing feat.