The 87th annual academy awards took place on February 22, 2015.  Host, Neil Patrick Harris, dazzled the audience with a musical opening with help from Anna Kendrick and Jack Black. This opening set the tone for a night filled with happiness and thankfulness as various talented people won Oscars for their work in motion pictures.

Acceptance speeches are usually used to thank those who have helped the winner in achieving this award. Winners often thank their parents, siblings, mentors, fellow cast members, and whoever else they believe helped them to win this award. This year there were a few Oscar winners who strayed from the traditional acceptance speech, and whose speeches stuck out from the rest.

Common and Legend’s song “Glory” won the Oscar for best original song. “Glory” was written for the movie “Selma” and the audience was visibly moved when Common and Legend performed this song. During their acceptance speeches, Common and Legend expressed their concern for equal rights.

“We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say Selma is now, because the struggle for justice is right now,” Legend said.

Another Oscar winner who expressed her concern for equal rights during her acceptance speech was Patricia Arquette. Arquette won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in “Boyhood.” During her acceptance speech, Arquette took a stand for herself and women everywhere.

“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights, it’s our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America,” Arquette said.

After Arquette’s speech, fellow actress, Meryl Streep, stood up in praise and agreement of Arquette’s strong words.

This year the Oscar for best adapted screenplay went to Graham Moore for the film “The Imitation Game.” Moore was beside himself with joy as he thanked everyone who helped him along the way as he accepted this award, but after a brief pause, he revealed a very personal story.

“When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself,” Moore said. “Because I felt weird, and I felt different, and I felt like I did not belong. And now I’m standing here, and I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she’s weird or she’s different or doesn’t fit anywhere. Yes, you do.”

Moore then spoke directly to anyone who’s ever felt weird or different, telling them to “stay weird, stay different.”

Another actor who produced a touching acceptance speech was J. K. Simmons. Simmons won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in “Whiplash.” After thanking his wife and kids, Simmons turned his attention to everyone watching the Oscars, either in the audience or watching from their TVs. Simmons passed along this heartfelt message:

“Call your mom, call your dad. If you’re lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call ‘em. Don’t text. Don’t email. Call them on the phone. Tell ‘em you love ‘em, and thank them, and listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you. Thank you. Thank you, Mom and Dad,” Simmons said.

These Oscar winners spent what little time they were given for an acceptance speech on delivering messages they wanted others to hear. They strayed from simply thanking everyone who helped them along their road to winning an Oscar, and produced uplifting and powerful speeches which will be remembered for years to come.