CONGRATS on a well deserved win! I wish Roger Ross Williams had the opportunity to share his acceptance speech with the world. The energy and excitement with which he entered the stage and began to share his experience with the project was sadly muted.

WOW!!!
I am so happy for everyone who has taken part of this awareness raising and beautiful event.
sincerely,
Sal Garza

Congratulations! Well said… and am utterly disappointed that you didn’t have the chance to share those words during your spotlight.

Elinor Burkett… you should see how many comments you generated by pulling that stunt. You were utterly rude and you should apologize for your juvenile behavior.

I just saw Roger win. I was shocked to see that woman, a white woman, so rudely interrupt his speech. I think she said, “let a woman talk.” I’m a woman, and I felt as if this young man, a first time filmmaker should have had a chance to speak. Good outcome. Her rudeness sparked my interest in film. I’ll purchase and send a donation. Roger, Prudence Congratulations. Producer, that woman; get therapy, for goodness sake.

congrats all!

My goodness. Congrats on your win, and I’m so sorry that your speech was interrupted — she obviously wasn’t meant to speak, but her interruption was just flat-out rude.

Enjoy your win, and I’m sorry about the unhinged producer. Not all “ladies” behave as such, unfortunately.

Beautiful words you wrote there. It’s too bad that Elinor Burkett took it upon herself to not allow you to speak them.

I am SOOOOOOO proud of my UNCLE ROGER!!!! I lOVE YOU UNCLE ROGE!!!

Makorokoto, Congratulations from Australia! Prudence, you make me so proud to be a Zimbabwean woman.
All the best for the future!
Regards, Taku

congratulations to you roger. i cannot wait to see your film. what an evening for you, your mom, and prudence, and everyone associated with this project. (i’m very sorry that you were so rudely interrupted by that obnoxious obnoxious self centered “lady kanye”, but you handled her takeover with class).

The lady was Elinor Burkett (co-winner of the award with Roger). She should have waited her turn to talk instead of interrupting. She could have held her Oscar and smiled until he finished, then she could give her speech.

I still don’t understand why Roger and Elinor didn’t walk up together, after all they both won the award.

I think he was just so excited to win, he ran up there and forgot to wait for elinor who was still trying to get out of her row.

Roger congrats on your win! I’m a so sorry you were interrupted mid sentence but don’t allow that to dampen your spirits!

What a beautiful acceptance speech! Congratulations to Roger for his wonderful work. I cannot wait to get the CD and DVD.

I see other comments online tonight criticizing “that white woman” as if her race was the determining factor. I think “that rude outburst” is more accurate. This was a Kanye moment (not “that black man”, but just another “that rude outburst”).

At least turned a lot of new eyes on this documentary and I hope that like Taylor Swift, this means more acknowledgement and more appreciation!

Congratulations!
I am sure you will have many more opportunities to say what you need to say.

I (and for the record, I’m a “white woman”) was also shocked by the rude, classless, selfish and self-gratifying behavior by Elinor Burkett who was determined to make a moment that should have been about the recognition of a film that recorded triumph over incredible odds, all about herself. Shame on you Elinor. There’s a reason only one statue was given out. And what the hell was she talking about, “let the woman speak?” Idiotic, obnoxious blowhard. I can’t imagine what a nightmare she was to work with. Poor Mr. Williams, who was giving an honest, heartfelt and from what I can read here, selfless speech that concentrated on his film’s subject and spirit. Elinor, you may be a woman, but you’re no lady.

First, thanks Prudence for giving us a little peek into your world and your voice. As a Black disabled journalist, poet, researcher and music historian/produce, I have to say I give my heart to Roger and Prudence for speaking what a lot of disabled musicians go through, discrimination and seeing others speak for us. I’ve been following Prudence and the band for almost three years and now all the light should shine on Prudence, LYANIA and all other disabled people/musicians who get stepped on everyday and are put in the back. Roger, you are something else to team up with a group of disabled musicians and having them teach u. Elinor Burkett, if you are so worried about people with disabilities how about advocating at the Oscars to have Prudence sit in the front row or better yet have her accept the award yeah making the Oscars accessible. Now that is something to snatch the mic for!

Anyway thank u Prudence. Disabled people around the world are so proud of u.

Leroy Moore

Elinor, you dont know everything. stop trying to take over every single thing that comes your way. the reason why you were dismissed from the project was because you were too obsessed with featuring the band rather than the individual artists, and lost sight of the original goal of the film. you should be thankful that Roger included you in his project as much as he did — pretty humbly so too. you should have been grateful enough that your name still remained in the nomination, which lead to you winning an academy award. but no, you had to break the academy’s rule (only one acceptor for shorts), violate the viewers with you disgusting voice, and ruin what was a shinning moment for roger, the rest of the crew, and the incredible cast. you should be kicked out of the academy, and forced to apologize to roger and his mother, and the rest of the cast and crew. good riddance woman, shape up or shut up; its ironic that your film (and “speech”) is against bigots.

Many Congrats ROGER on a job well done

Congratulations Roger!!! All those long days and crazy hours paid off :0 HBO and your crew was incredible. Many more to come!!!

Congratulations Roger. I couldn’t believe how incredibly rude Elinor Burkett was to cut you off. Tackiest part of the entire ceremony. I can only imagine that she has no clue what she did.

Congratulations—saw word of this film on the GMA, delighted to hear of your win! A great story to feature–inspiring.

Sheila Nevins is a godsend to independent film, right?

For God’s sake, get that neurotic Burkett woman out of your business.

DSS

for myself, I would have not paid as much attention to the award recipients if the redhead didn’t create a rude obtrusion, now I am reading all about your wonderful short documentary! It was very strange to see it happen and perhaps someone’s intrusion will have a positive result in the end… for the movie…

Thank you for sharing a breathtakingly inspiring story at a time when we need inspiration, love, light and true beauty. Prudence beaming her beatific smile is a sight to behold–a star brighter than that of the gazilion celebrities in the theater.

Roger Ross Williams, you are a class act, all the way. May this be the launching of an ever-expanding career in film, and may Prudence and her band find a success that lights the way for the darkness of the Zimbabwean mentality on people with disabilities. As is sometimes the case, the *non-disabled* majority is, in fact, more disabled than the *disabled* minority.

Congratualtions Roger, Prudence, cast & crew… God speed!..

Now–Blackabll that rude women Elinor Burkett!!!!
What did you forget to take your prozac!…disgracefull…

I think you did so welll to control yourself as that woman was like a stalker hounding you! Very scary stuff- I think you need to protect yourself as she seems so unstable. My god-I was scared and I had a screen and 3000 miles between us.
Congratulations and know that all of us(may I speak for my family and friends) felt you handled it really well. I would have bitch-slapped her. (Just joking)

Roger Williams energy and charisma was one of the best parts of the Oscar ceremony. His grace in the face of the grace-less, incoherent interruption of the ” unknown -crazy- woman” only made him more powerful. Even this unpredictable, real, human and theatrical moment was great( really one of the best moments) in the sanitized unreal, artificial and boring rest of ceremony. It certainly attracted our attention and
made me want to see the film. And thanks for introducing us to Prudence
and making sure the Academy included such a moving picure of her.
Thanks for allowing us to to have the full experience now.

Congratulations Roger, seen the rude clip and have to say there is always that one in the crowd, the one that thinks they can do it, or say it better, maybe had too many cocktails before the night got started. Listened to the beautiful voice and music of this inspirational woman, can only say, “wow”. Looking forward to seeing this on HBO and purchasing a CD. Best regards ~

Hi Rogers,
After watching your emotional walk and trot down to the stage, I had to go check what your documentary was all about- I have been sharing your kind of emotions since. My only wish is that THAT WHITE WOMAN who thought A BLACK MAN cannot speak for himself and a documentary that undoubtedly meant so much to you messed it all up. All of us watching wanted to hear you out.
I have to excuses for racists like her-she may be your greatest c0-producer, co worker etc but she didnt show any respect for your moment in the limelight
Congratulations once again
Loyd
Ontario Canada

My Dear Prudence, You make me feel like a proud mother. We met in Zimbabwe at King George. When my team came to Zimbabwe to minister. I thank God for having had the chance to meet such a wonder for lady. I pray our paths will cross again. Congratulations. I will never forget you.
Tell Energy and the rest of your group hi for me.
Blessings,
Stacey (Judah Ministries)

This is so awesome. Congratulations all.
Eagerly awaiting the album and DVD.

Congratulations to the whole “Music by Prudence” team! I was so touched by the circumstances you had to endure to make this short documentary. Let us forgive Mr. Williams for the slippage of his tongue. Zimbabwe is not a country which despises the handicapped. To an outsider, it might very well appear to be so but then ours is a problem of poverty and great need. Being disabled just stacks the odds against you a little higher- but despise them we don’t! I forgive you Mr. Williams and thank you for the great job your team did. Siyabonga! Tatenda! Thank you!

your remarks are lovely, and i am so thrilled to find this site, and this place where your words were able to be put out there. i am so very sorry that you were cut off. i was aghast, and tore through the next day’s newspapers trying to find out what that was all about. you were so lovely and gracious. and i am sooooo sorry your moment was pre-empted. i will make sure this film is seen by as many as possible. i can’t wait to absorb it. bless you for the work you do….

I did not watch the Oscars, and I had never heard of you or your music. I was flipping through the channels on TV and I saw you singing ith your Grantmother on HBO. I continued to watch. Your have a beautiful spirit. God truly forms each of us for His purposes. You can reach so many people. Your song about AIDS, your sharing of the reality of God’s love has and will continue to touch many lives. God bless and keep you.

Laurie