Michael B. Jordan broke down in entrance of a star-studded crowd at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles as he accepted the American Cinematheque Award, reflecting on his journey from rising expertise to revered filmmaker and actor.

The 38-year-old Creed star obtained the consideration from longtime collaborator Ryan Coogler after a collection of heartfelt tributes from friends together with Ben Affleck, Mahershala Ali, Tessa Thompson, Octavia Spencer, Bradley Cooper, Delroy Lindo and Daniel Kaluuya.

Kaluuya paused the celebration to request a second of silence for his or her late Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman, whose Hollywood Walk of Fame star was unveiled earlier that day.

Jordan’s 13-minute speech was stuffed with gratitude and emotion as he appeared again on his profession and the individuals who helped form it.

“I look around the room and I see the people who were there from the beginning with prayer, support, belief,” Jordan said, according to Gold Derby. “Some of those people aren’t here tonight, but their fingerprints are all over the foundation. Their work, their faith — it all went into this. Watching y’all do that for me, I realized I didn’t have to pull up a chair to somebody else’s table. I could have my own table. I could have my own house. And more importantly, I could build a community.”

The Fruitvale Station actor, one of many youngest ever to obtain the Cinematheque Award, spoke about forging his personal path and creating house for others.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants — and my ancestors. Build the house, and they will come,” he mentioned. Quoting creator Toni Morrison, he added, “If there’s a book you really want to read that hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

He closed with a message to fellow creatives and decision-makers within the business: “So, to the artist: plant your seeds, find your people, build with them. And to the people making decisions about what stories do get told: be bold, take the risk. These stories matter.”

The American Cinematheque Award is given yearly to a person who has made an enduring affect on the artwork of movie. Past recipients embody Jessica Chastain, Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, Spike Lee and Eddie Murphy.

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