Beyonce honored with Humanitarian Award at 2020 BET Awards and urges people to vote this year: 'We have to vote like our life depends on it because it does'

Beyonce was honored at Sunday's 2020 BET Awards with the Humanitarian Award.

Ex-First Lady Michelle Obama presented the 38-year-old songstress with the honors, citing her charitable efforts and activism on global, national and local levels, including the singer's native Houston.

Obama hailed Beyonce's 'generosity of spirit and her love of her community,' as well as her focus on calling 'out sexism and racism when she sees it ... all while staying devoted to her children and the loved ones she holds dear.' 

The singer's charitable endeavors include her BeyGOOD initiative, which has brought relief to educational programs, aid to the East African country Burundi and COVID-19 testing for the Black community in her native Houston.

In her acceptance speech, the Single Ladies artist sent her gratitude toward the people who have demonstrated in support of the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police brutality.

'I want to dedicate this award to all my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me and marching for change,' Beyonce said. 'Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.' 

Beyonce urged people to 'continue to take action' and 'continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system,' she said, noting the upcoming election in November and stressing the need for people to show up and vote.

The singer also took to Instagram earlier Sunday to share an open letter her mother Tina Lawson penned urging U.S. senators to pass the Heroes Act bill in an effort she said was to 'ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle.' 

She wrote in the caption, 'I am proud to stand with my mother, @mstinalawson and the Mothers of The Movement to send this open letter to senators calling for the passing of the Heroes Act. 'This bill would help provide funding to ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle. Read the letter and add your voice with ours.

The Grammy-winning star included a petition to sign in support of Lawson's letter, which was addressed to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

The HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act, which was proposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic - and its subsequent impact on all aspects of life - is aimed at protecting the voting rights of the 'disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities.'

Lawson had a number of celeb cosigners to her letter, including Beyoncé and Solange, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Regina King and Kerry Washington. 

The letter is also cosigned by the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and the matriarch of George Floyd's family, among others.