On Sunday, March 5 OWN will broadcast the 10th anniversary of ESSENCE’s Black Women in Hollywood Awards.”
The star-studded event honors the most dynamic Black women in Hollywood, and this year’s roster is phenomenal.
Singer/actress Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures, Moonlight) receives the Breakthrough Award; writer/executive producer Issa Rae (Insecure) receives the Vanguard Award; standout actress Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder) receives the Lincoln Shining Star Award; and dynamic actress Yara Shahidi (Black-ish) receives the Generation Next Award.
“When I got into the music industry, there were not a lot of African-American girls wearing tuxedos [and] rocking natural hair on a mainstream level,” Janelle Monae told a group of Black students at Harvard University. “I was not status quo, and I can relate to the students here who come, and they may be the minority.”
In the years since, the talent has become an activist, speaking out for African-Americans, women and the LGTBQ community.
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Similarly, Yara has been outspoken about her Iranian-Muslim heritage and the importance of inclusivity.
“Xenophobia destroys the power of love and the power of our collective potential,” she said on social media. “It creates a false sense of security for some and an environment of fear for others. Immigrants don’t threaten safety–stereotypical narratives that promote hate do.”
This will be the third year the event will air on OWN. You can find more information on Black Women In Hollywood, here.
ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards premieres Sunday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
