Chadwick Boseman won his first-ever Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama last night (Feb. 28) for his performance as Levee Green in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward accepted the posthumous honor in an emotional speech.

“He would thank God,” Taylor began. “He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices. He would thank his incredible team… he would thank his team on set for this film.”

She continued tearfully, “He would say something beautiful; something inspiring. Something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells you, ‘You can.’ That tells you to keep going; that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”

Taylor went on to name members of Chadwick’s team, acting colleagues and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom cast members. She said he would have wanted to specifically thank the likes of Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, the crew at Netflix and many more.

“I don’t have his words,” she continued. “But we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love. So, thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that. And, honey, you keep ’em coming. Thank you.”

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was Chadwick’s final role before he tragically died from a four-year battle with colon cancer.

The film hit theaters after his death and was released to critical acclaim, also earning him four nominations at the 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards. At the ceremony, he was also nominated for awards for his second-to-last performance in Spike Lee’s war drama Da 5 Bloods, breaking the record for the most nominations to go to one actor in a single night.

Watch Taylor’s tear-jerking acceptance speech at the 78th Golden Globe Awards below.