In many ways, Mahogany L. Browne’s poem “Black Girl Magic” was a call for all Black girls to realize their potential. But Browne’s work was also a reminder of the legacy of excellence Black girls come from. The poem eventually inspired a gala event — The Black Girl Magic Ball. Years later, on May 13 at Lincoln Center, it celebrated its eighth iteration. And true to its roots, it remained a celebration of creativity and lineage.
Guests dressed head to toe in colorful ensembles that expressed their creativity. Some coordinated their wigs with their dresses, while others draped themselves in gold chains and rocked Timberland boots. Despite the dreary day outside, everything glittered in the atrium space, where Brooklyn-based and Chicago-raised DJ PINKKY set the tone, fittingly spinning a soundtrack made entirely by Black artists.
Browne approached the mic and reinforced the tone of the ball: “I want this to be like church!” She continued in her iconic spoken word annunciation: “This is where laughter is a revolution, where love wears locks, holds gold or silver hoops and a righteous strut. We are not just celebrating a moment. We are honoring a movement stitched together by our stories, our scars, our singing voices, our boundless brilliance and oh, what brilliance we hold in this room tonight.”
The ball honored five Black women artists and trailblazers in the creative field, along with one “Ally Honoree:” Nona Hendryx, Sade Lythcott, Maori Holmes, Rachel Cargle, Pascale Sablan, and ally honoree Jason Reynolds. All were presented with awards throughout the night.
Marielle Argueza photos
Nona Hendryx, one third of the trio Labelle, accepts her flowers at the Black Girl Magic Ball. She thanked Browne for the honor and said “Thank you for reminding us that we are a blueprint for Black girl kind.” 
Kai Giovanni performs for the crowd. Giovanni is Urban Word NYC’s Youth Poet Laureate for 2024-2025. 
Youth dancers from Brooklyn-based AbunDance Academy of the Arts performed original choreography for attendees at the Black Girl Magic Ball. 
Dr. Mahogany L. Browne poses with honoree Pascale Sablan, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a leading advocate for equity in design. 
Dr. Mahogany L. Browne, founder of the Black Girl Magic Ball, poses for the cameras at the event’s eighth iteration. Photo by Marielle Argueza
Hendryx — best recognized as a member of the trio Labelle — is celebrated for her electrifying performances and genre-defying sound as a singer, songwriter, and award-winning producer. She rose to fame with the groundbreaking group Labelle, known for their hit “Lady Marmalade,” before launching a solo career that fused funk, rock, and new wave. Beyond music, Hendryx is also known for her multimedia collaborations and advocacy for social justice and women’s rights.
Lythcott is a self-proclaimed “theater person.” More importantly, she is the CEO of the National Black Theatre in Harlem, where she leads one of the oldest Black theaters in the country. Under her leadership, the institution has expanded its programming and forged partnerships with cultural powerhouses like The Apollo and Lincoln Center. Lythcott is also a Tony Award-winning producer, recognized for her commitment to amplifying Black voices in the performing arts.
Holmes is a filmmaker, curator, and CEO of BlackStar Projects, a nonprofit that elevates the work of independent Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists globally. She is the founder of the BlackStar Film Festival — often called “the Black Sundance” — and has curated for institutions including MoMA and the Whitney Museum. Holmes also hosts the podcast “Many Lumens,” where she explores the creative lives of visionary artists.
Cargle is a writer, lecturer, and founder of The Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy support for Black women and girls. Her debut book “A Renaissance of Our Own” blends memoir and manifesto to explore identity, liberation, and personal growth. Through her popular platform The Great Unlearn, she creates accessible education on race, feminism, and wellness.
Sablan is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). She is an award-winning architect and a leading advocate for equity in design. She is the founder of Beyond the Built Environment, which highlights diverse designers through exhibitions like Say It Loud. With over 15 years of experience and work on major projects globally, Sablan is also the youngest African American woman elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.
Ally Honoree Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling author whose books for young readers tackle issues of race, identity, and resilience. His acclaimed works include “Long Way Down,” “Ghost,” and “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You,” co-authored with Ibram X. Kendi. Reynolds has served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and is known for connecting deeply with youth through storytelling that is both honest and empowering. He was the only man to receive an award that night, and Browne hailed his work for raising funds for fellow Black women.
While the crowd roared each time an honoree walked the stage, the gala also featured performances by multi-talented performer and musician Shyvonne, a choreographer from the youth dancers of Brooklyn-based AbunDance, and an original spoken word poem by NYC Poet Laureate Kai Giovanni.
In an event all about celebrating artistic and creative achievement and lineage, Giovanni represents both. They are the grandchild of the late Nikki Giovanni and are the Urban Word NYC youth poet laureate for 2024–2025. The Black Girl Magic Ball is in part held to raise funds for Urban Word.
The program helps youth engage and express themselves through literary art and created the Youth Laureate Program in 2008. Like in many cities, the poet laureate program selects a young poet annually, not only to represent the program but also to participate in four weeks of intensive poetry courses. Laureates also gain opportunities for high-profile publishing deals and to compete in regional competitions.
“The Youth Laureate Program allows young people who are into poetry, across the nation,” said Urban Word Executive Director Melisha Jackman to AmNews. “It’s not just a way to come together, but to name things, people, society, and to give people that New York taste, all over the nation, for as many young people as possible. It’s a way to get our poetry out of New York, and bring it to a bigger scale.”