Sheryl Lee Ralph took home the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series during the Sept. 12, 2022 Emmys and made history as the second Black woman to win the coveted award since Jackee Harry won it in 1987 for her role as Sandra on “227,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. When Ralph took the stage, the “Abbott Elementary” actress sang a verse from Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species” as the audience gave her a standing ovation. Meanwhile, HBO’s “Euphoria” star Zendaya also made history, becoming the first Black woman to win lead actress in a drama and the youngest two-time winner of any Emmy in history. To make the night of “Black Girl Magic” end with a bang, Lizzo’s “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” beat out a number of veteran competition contenders, including “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” and Quinta Brunson won for writing for a comedy series for “Abbott Elementary.”
Pharrell Williams announced the launch of new creative advocacy agency Mighty Dream on Sept. 12. The Grammy-winning producer and entrepreneur collaborated with Edelman to co-found the effort, reports AdWeek. Derived from Pharrell’s 2021 Elephant in the Room panel, which examined the business potential in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia, Mighty Dream will exclusively develop products and creative solutions that solve some of the societal challenges that have marginalized communities. Says Pharrell, “Mighty Dream aims to create what’s missing in creativity, in advocacy, in society.”
The International Federation of Real Estate welcomes Harlem/NYC real estate firm CEO Eugenia Foxworth to the World Board of Directors. She will serve on the FIABCI World Board of Directors from 2022 to 2025 and becomes the first Black person to be elected to this role. “I look forward to the FIABCI Board of Directors meeting in NYC from September 15-16, 2022,” says Foxworth. “During this time there will be an investment Forum and Trade Mission. One of the highlights of the two-day event is the panel discussion ‘How the Pandemic and ESG changed Global Real Estate Investments over the last two years’ which is being held at the University Club.”
On Sept. 12, the Cort Theatre on Broadway in the Big Apple was officially renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in honor of the iconic multi-award winning American actor. Following a $47 million restoration and expansion of the building, a formal dedication ceremony will take place on 48th Street to celebrate the theater’s completion. The official dedication ceremony will be open to invited guests and members of the press. It will include special performances, tours of the renovated theater, and an unveiling of the new marquee. Celebrities who attended the renaming included Brian Stokes Mitchell, Samuel L. Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Norm Lewis, Danielle Brooks, and cast members from the Tony-winning Best Musical, “A Strange Loop.”