The EBONY Power 100 Awards ceremony is set to return later this month, the long-running outlet has announced. On Oct. 23, EBONY Magazine will celebrate the incredible achievements of African American leaders in business, sports, music, entertainment, activism and more; as well as the magazine’s 75th year in business at a ceremony in Los Angeles in partnership with Ciroc.
“We are so proud to be able to bring the EBONY Power 100 back reimagined, refreshed and standing as a true representation of today’s Black America!” EBONY CEO Michele Ghee said in a statement. “EBONY has always recognized all facets of Black life and, with this event marking a major milestone in the brand’s continued evolution, we are intent on making this Black culture’s biggest night.”
On Thursday (Sept. 30), the company unveiled its 2021 EBONY Power 100 honorees, including this year’s Special Awards recipients. Honorees in the Music Impact include Big Freedia, Erica Campbell, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, DJ D-Nice, Lil Baby, Questlove, Joi Brown, Jeanine McLean-Williams, Rapsody, Anderson .Paak and Travis Scott.
Actress Storm Reid will be honored with the Rising Star Award; MC Lyte will receive the Trailblazer Award; Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, lead scientist of the National Institutes of Health’s COVID-19 response team, will be honored with the Innovator of the Year award; and the co-hosting ladies of “Red Table Talk” — Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris — will take home the Entertainer of the Year Award.
“After what has been a most challenging and turbulent year, this year’s nominees and honorees represent a wide range of people who persevered and continue to do the work,” Ghee said. “And, in doing so, they have contributed immensely to their respective fields and communities — making a significant impact on the cultural landscape each in their own way. From grassroots organizers to the arts and entertainment to the corporate boardrooms, we are very excited to shine a light on these amazing people because no one can celebrate Black excellence quite like EBONY!”
Other award recipients will include Rep. Cori Bush (Social Justice Champion), Shaquille O’ Neal (Game Changer), Trae the Truth (Community Builder), inaugural poet Amanda Gorman (NextGen) and Chloe and Halle Bailey (NextGen).
See the full list of award recipients below.
Special Awards: Storm Reid (Rising Star Award); MC Lyte (Trailblazer Award); Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett (Innovator of the Year), Deion Sanders (Game Changer of the Year); Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris (Entertainer of the Year Award); and Damon Jones and Stephanie Headley (Corporate Citizen Award)
Entertainment Powerhouse: Andra Day, Regé-Jean Page, Anthony Mackie, MJ Rodriguez, Liesl Tommy, Tessa Thompson and John David Washington
Music Impact: Big Freedia, Erica Campbell, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Derrick “D- Nice” Jones, Lil Baby, Questlove, Joi Brown, Jeanine McLean-Williams, Rapsody, Anderson .Paak and Travis Scott
Social Justice Champion: Rep. Cori Bush, the CROWN Coalition (Kelli Richardson Lawson, Esi Eggleston Bracey, Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, Adjoah B. Asamoah and Senator Holly J. Mitchell), Erica Ford, Darnella Frazier, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Shaun King, Keith Meadows, Brittany Packnett and Senator Raphael Warnock
Excellence In Journalism: Don Lemon, Abby Phillip, Charles Blow, Tamron Hall, W. Kamau Bell, Tomi Adeyemi, Ebro Darden and Nischelle Turner
Ceiling Breaker: Thasunda Brown Duckett, Rosetta Bryson, Rashida Jones, Harvey Mason Jr., Fawn Weaver, Miriam Vales, Karine Jean-Pierre, Letitia “Tish” James and Melanie Boulden
Game Changer: Shaquille O’ Neal, Francis Ngannou, Lewis Hamilton, Sydney Michelle McLaughlin, Stephen A. Smith, Brehanna Daniels and Maya Moore
Innovation Leader: Beatrice Dixon, Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant, Isaac Hayes III, Joy Buolamwini, MC Hammer, Dr. Patrice A. Harris, Dr. Angela D. Reddix, Tanya Van Court and Arlan Hamilton
Community Builder: Regina Jackson, Trae the Truth, Missionary Ellen K. Clark, Eunique Jones Gibson, Emil Wilbekin, Alice Marie Johnson, Dr. Kendell Jasper and Kainon Jasper, Brandon McEachern, Darryl Perkins and Marcus Allen and Deon T. Jones
Breakthrough Creators: Nae Nae Twins, Coodie & Chike, Brandice Daniel, Chad Easterling, Imani Ellis, Brandon Pankey, Demetria Lucas, Patrick “Fresh” Henry, Law Roach and Misha Green
NextGen: Nicolas Johnson, Noah Harris, Nia DaCosta, Cheick Camara, Chloe & Halle Bailey Jon Moody, Ermias Tadesse, Zaila Avant-garde and Amanda Gorman