This month the Black Girls Rock award show returned for its annual broadcast on the BET network. Actress, American rapper, song writer, singer and producer Queen Latifah hosted the show. Her debut album, “All Hail to the Queen,” sold more than 1 million copies and the single “U.N.I.T.Y” earned Latifah her first Grammy Award. To celebrate Black women making a difference, the event honored Janet Jackson, Judith Jamison, Lena Waithe, Naomi Campbell, Mary J. Blige and community change agent Tarana Burke. Performers and speakers included Jacqueline Green, Rapsody, Tamia, Victory Boyd, Yolanda Adams, Ava DuVernay, Ciara, Merle Dandridge, Misty Copeland, Nature Naughton, Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland and Storm Reid. The show was prerecorded Aug. 26, 2018, at the Performing Arts Center in Newark N.J, and aired Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at 8 p.m.
The nonprofit youth empowerment and mentoring organization has been rocking on since 2006. It has been dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls. Their goal is to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life. Through strong mentorship, arts education, culture exploration and public service the organization has enjoyed the opportunity to enhance the lives of girls aged 12 to 17. Since the official debut of the show in 2010 on BET, the Black Girls Rock awards has been a trail-blazing show and has become an annual televised event on BET and Centric. The show is seen by more than 2.5 million viewers. Throughout the years Black Girls Rock has honored some incredible women, including Shirley Caesar, Angela Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Laurel Richie and Patti LaBelle, and this year the show also paid tribute to the late Aretha Franklin who died Aug. 16.
CEO, creator and founder, celebrity DJ, model and producer Beverly Bond started Black Girls Rocks to illustrate to the world that we are a force to be reckoned with. We are educators, entrepreneurs, artists, performers, innovators and so much more. And by reaching to the next generation about topics on self-worth, aspirations and determination, Bond insisted that the organization enforces these messages that young Black women have so much more to offer the world. They do not need to objectify themselves or relinquish their independence. Black Girls Rock has set the pace for a brighter and successful future.
Bond began her career as a model in New York City after high school. She worked with major modeling agencies such as Wilhelmina. Although modeling wasn’t her passion, she developed interest in it. The modeling industry took away her confidence, especially as a woman of color. The industry often held models to a European standard of beauty. In the past they would turn away Black models, especially those with Bond’s Afro natural hair because it was often a source of controversy. Bond noticed how women of color were being portrayed in the industry, she was paying more attention and noticed a lot of dehumanization and disrespect, and years later in 2006 she created Black Girls Rock!
On behalf of the Amsterdam News, I had the opportunity to cover the red carpet and conduct face-to-face interviews with some of today’s trending celebrities. Dr. Mareena Robinson Snowden is the first person I spoke with. As the first Black women to earn her Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from MIT, she is changing the game. She was excited to be at the show. What she was anticipating the most about the show was just being at the show, surrounded by beautiful Black, educated successful women.
“I am a nuclear engineer,” she said. “This isn’t a part of our daily life. We do research presentations. And just being in this atmosphere had been tremendous.”
I asked what keeps her positive and motivated. She stated, “Community is essential today, community and faith. My life is ordered by something higher than what is happening right now, the good and the bad. My husband, friends and family also keeps me motivated.”
I asked, “What advice would you give all Black women in the community?’
“Know that the essence of yourself is excellence!” she replied.
Robinson Snowden was celebrated as a Black Girls Rock 2018 honoree.
Leomie Anderson, a British model and designer, stopped to chat with me. She said, “[I am] very excited to see Janet Jackson, she is an icon and I have never got to see her perform live! I wanna have my edges removed!”
I asked what is the most exciting thing about tonight for her. She said, “This is my very first Black Girls Rock, I am very excited to see everyone in one space because I go to so many events and sometimes I don’t feel very represented. So this is amazing.”
Amanda Gorman, American poet and activist, said, “The one advice I would give to all Black girls is to support all Black girls!” She was excited to see Queen Latifah.
Donshea Hopkins is the actress known for her portrayal of Raina St. Patrick on the Starz crime drama “Power.” I asked her what Black Girls Rock means to her. She said, “Black Girls Rock means so much to me. I grew up watching the show, it means representation, beauty, individuality and talent. It inspires me so much to keep doing what I am doing.”
I also asked her about growing into “Power” and how has she progressed personally. She said, “I progressed a lot. ‘Power’ was my breakout role, but I have been acting since I was 4 years old. So a lot of roles has prepared me for that, but getting to actually work on the show with such longevity, and going in there as a rookie, I feel so much more experienced getting out of it.”
I approached female cast members of “Hustle in Brooklyn,” a new reality series on the BET network set to premiere Oct. 23, 2018. The show will explore “the social and professional lives of some of Brooklyn’s most sought after and influential personalities, from upcoming hip-hop artist to internationally known DJs to one of RocNations protégés.”
I asked, “How much has being a part of the Black Girl magic played into where you have gotten today?” They collectively replied, “Having good energy, meeting different people and staying open and consistent. If you are negative, there are no possibilities of collaboration. This is our first Black Girls Rock and we feel blessed!”
At Black Girls Rock 2018 on BET, everything that makes Black girls royal was celebrated.
Mary Ajala is a senior studying marketing and public relations at Bridgeport University.
