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Happy belated birthday to Zuri Hall!

The ANW sideline reporter’s birthday was on June 2.

By Nikki Lee
2019 TCA NBC Press Tour Carpet Photo by David Livingston/WireImage

We want to wish a very happy belated birthday to American Ninja Warrior’s sideline reporter, Zuri Hall! Her birthday was last week on June 2.

The day before her birthday, Zuri shared this post on Instagram which should be read, re-read, and read again.

View this post on Instagram

My birthday is tmrw. This vid is my bday, 2 yrs ago. The reason why has changed but I’m posting, still — and hope it sparks a little joy for you, the way it has for me in this difficult time. But the caption has taken on a new life.⁣ ⁣ My friends store in Columbus was just looted & destructed. Last night I cried myself to sleep with news that another friend was shot & killed in Indy. The irony of that beautiful, Black man losing his life to violence, the very night people marched to convince others that his life matters... God help us.⁣⁣ ⁣ Curfews are being slammed down, because people are angry & hurt & tired of no change. It’s all. across. America. Our collective pains are as old as this country that our ancestors built (for free) on their backs.⁣ ⁣ Do you see those beautiful Black men who hopped out of the car with me? Those are my my literal, “baby” (ha) brothers. I watched them crawl. Dried their tears. I climbed trees with them. We are the same blood.⁣ ⁣ That first beautiful Black man you see, dancing with me? He is my friend & co-host. He shares his magnetic light + spirit while informing you on national TV, daily.⁣ ⁣ The older man with the hat, on the dance floor? That beautiful Black man is my FATHER. My rock. My EVERYTHING. The most shining pillar of strength that I know.⁣⁣ ⁣ And all the other beautiful Black men you see, are my friends & colleagues. I want you to really SEE them. Do not be offended by our desire, our demand, our right to be SEEN. Nothing about the right to matter is offensive.⁣ ⁣ I am encouraged by my friends, colleagues, & followers who refuse to stay silent. I am proud of the fact that every non-Black person in that video who is a friend of mine, has spoken out; and is committed to continue being —or becoming— a better ally.⁣ ⁣ We are ALL in this together. And all lives can not matter unless — until — #BlackLivesMatter too. My bday wish is that you, whoever you are reading right now, believe that. And that you commit to helping us make a world where the next generation doesn’t even think twice about that fact — because they’ve only ever known it to be true. ❤️

A post shared by Zuri Hall (@zurihall) on

Zuri joined the American Ninja Warrior family in season 11 and to say she fit right in would be an understatement.

View this post on Instagram

Tonight I go Primetime, for the first time.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I could be cool, and casual, and nonchalant with the caption... but I won’t, because that’s not what’s true.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’m ecstatic.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’m thrilled. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’m near tears typing this. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Because God is faithful, and He is working. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ And paths are being made clear that were previously confusing.⁣⁣⁣⁣ And most importantly: I did it my way. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ I get to be Zuri Vyesha Hall.⁣⁣⁣⁣ With my pride & my integrity intact.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I haven’t had to sell my soul.⁣⁣⁣⁣ Or cut anyone down, to do it.⁣⁣⁣⁣ Or pretend to be something I’m not.⁣⁣⁣⁣ Because Lord knows this town will tempt you.⁣⁣⁣⁣ Make you believe you’ve gotta do those things, to get what you want.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I promise you — you are enough.⁣⁣⁣⁣ The light in you is enough.⁣⁣⁣⁣ He has made a space for me to be WHO I AM, and thrive — not in spite of it, but because of it.⁣⁣⁣⁣ The day I decided I didn’t want ANY thing *more than I wanted to remain the kind of woman my Mother & Father raised me to be... is the day I became lighter, freer.⁣⁣⁣⁣ The day I fully embraced who I am.⁣⁣⁣⁣ And I’ve learned to like who I am. A lot.⁣⁣⁣⁣ At times I’ve feared I’d never get where I wanted to go if I didn’t operate a certain way.⁣⁣⁣⁣ And I wondered if I should resign myself to mourning dreams I’d reluctantly but willingly defer, because there was a certain type of person I just wasn’t willing to become to reach them.⁣⁣⁣⁣ But time & time again the Word has proven true:⁣⁣⁣⁣ ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’⁣⁣⁣⁣ And the ANW Nation has shown me that.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’m so happy to be a part of this family.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I get to be silly. And quirky. And kind.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I get to care...⁣⁣⁣⁣ I get to be me.⁣⁣⁣⁣ And I’m grateful.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ P.S. Say hi to my Mom & Dad! They made me who I am, and I’m particularly thankful for that. They also gave me the weird facial expressions (*swipe left lol) that work well for freaking out on the sideline, watching Ninjas run ⁣⁣⁣⁣ (And they’ve been right by my side, every step of this crazy journey... Y’all the real MVPs.) ❤️⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Our new season of @NinjaWarrior premieres TONIGHT at 8/7c on @NBC. Join us.

A post shared by Zuri Hall (@zurihall) on

The Ninjas, the fans, the community - Zuri GETS us.

But that’s not all. Zuri is a co-host at “All Access” and a correspondent at “Access Hollywood.”

She’s also the founder of the Alphababe blog, which empowers Millennial women.

Happy birthday, Zuri! We can’t wait to see you back on the road with American Ninja Warrior whenever season 12 can get back up and running!

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