With the year winding down, we’re taking a look back at some of the most inspiring moments from 2014. These were the quotes that had us talking, got us tweeting, or inspired us to take action this year:
+ UN Climate Summit
As a UN Messenger for Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio took the stage at the Climate Summit in New York earlier this year. In his speech, he called out industrial polluters:
“We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for oil, coal and gas companies. We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free market economy. They do not deserve our tax dollars. They deserve our scrutiny for the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse. The good news is that renewable energy is not only achievable but good economic policy.”
+ Lupita at the Oscars
Lupita Nyong’o was understandably emotional when she took the stage to accept the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the end of her inspiring speech, Nyong’o brought viewers to tears with this line:
“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid. Thank you.”
+ Malala Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Malala Yousafzai was at school when she found out she won the Nobel Peace Prize. The young student and activist — who has spoken at length about the importance of children having access to an education — decided to wait until after school let out to address the press. You can see The Malala Fund’s tweet about the decision here:
Malala will make her first statement after school at 16.30/UK on her and @k_Satyarthi being honored with #NobelPeacePrize. #IDG2014
— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) October 10, 2014
+ Yes All Women
After a shooting incident in California, Twitter users adopted the #YesAllWomen hashtag to show how women are affected by sexism. Sophia Bush was one of many celebs who sent out a tweet with that hashtag, but it was the millions of other tweets sent that made it so popular:
I shouldn't have to hold my car keys in hand like a weapon & check over my shoulder every few seconds when I walk at night #YesAllWomen
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) May 25, 2014
#YesAllWomen because people still ask me if I'm on my period when I express my opinion on a subject.
— vicky johansson (@THEBLACKWlDOW) May 26, 2014
The frightening truth. The most terrifying thing I've ever read #YesAllWomen pic.twitter.com/sAABp29PxB
— #YesAllWomen (@yesallwomen) May 26, 2014
+ Ruth Bader Ginsburg Shared her Thoughts About Being the Notorious R.B.G.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spoken in the past about how she’d like to see the Supreme Court made up of nine female justices, and this year she solidified her place as a champion for women. After leading the dissent in the Hobby Lobby case, the justice sat down with Katie Couric and admitted she knew of her new, badass reputation:
“She [the woman who created the Notorious R.B.G. fanpage] has created a wonderful thing with Notorious R.B.G.,” Ginsburg said of the site. “I will admit I had to be told by my law clerks, what’s this Notorious. And they — they explained that to me.”
+ Janet Mock on Stories That Need to Be Told
Janet Mock spoke about why she wrote Redefining Realness:
“I wrote Redefining Realness because not enough of our stories are being told, and I believe we need stories that reflect us so we don’t feel so isolated in our apparent ‘difference.’ For so long, the media has been telling our stories through the filters of journalists, some well-meaning and others super-disrespectful, and I think it’s empowering to have stories that are unfiltered, coming directly from the source. Mainly, I wrote the book to raise awareness about the experiences of girls like myself and to empower these young women by giving them a story that actually reflects them—a story I did not have growing up. I hope being honest about my experiences and contextualizing them empowers young women to step into their truths, tell their own stories, and live visibly.”
+ Gina Rodriguez on the Importance of Diversity in Hollywood
As the star of The CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” Gina Rodriguez spoke about the importance of diversity and representation in Hollywood:
“Every ethnicity deserves to own that story, because it’s a human story. When I read Jane, I was like, ‘Here it is! I’ve been waiting for this.’ I thought so differently about myself growing up and what it took to undo that view of my people, of women, of beauty and those things, I’m like, ‘Hey, if Rita [Moreno] did that for me, and she made me see that I could do it too, then hopefully I can do that for someone else.’”
+ Chris Rock Talks Race + Hollywood
In a recent interview with NY Mag, Chris Rock spoke at length about race, diversity in Hollywood, and politics:
“So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years…The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Let’s hope America keeps producing nicer white people.”
What was your favorite quote from 2014? What moment will inspire you throughout the next year?
Photo: (Getty)