BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is a company founded by executive producer, businesswoman, celebrity DJ, and former model Beverly Bond.[1] The company hosts an annual award show of the same name that honors and promotes Black women's achievements. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! also has a nonprofit arm [2] that teaches leadership skills and develops confidence in teenage girls through its annual "BLACK GIRLS LEAD" conference.[3]
| BLACK GIRLS ROCK! | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 2006 |
| Website | www |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | BGR!TV NETWORKS |
History
editBLACK GIRLS ROCK! was founded by celebrity DJ and model Beverly Bond in 2006. The inaugural BLACK GIRLS ROCK! AWARDS ceremony honored rapper MC Lyte and DJ Jazzy Joyce at powerHouse Arena, an art gallery and powerHouse Books location in DUMBO, Brooklyn. [4] For the second annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards the organization honored Missy Elliott, Sylvia Rhone, and DJ Diamond Kuts at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City with actress Regina King as its host. The organization continued to independently produce its annual award show in New York City until 2009. In 2008 Regina King hosted the award show again and in 2009 the award show was co-hosted by Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross.
In 2010 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! collaborated with BET to bring its annual award ceremony to television. [5][6] The award show aired on BET from 2010 through 2019. In 2021, Beverly Bond, launched BGR!TV Networks, which streams original content celebrating Black women and girls including the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards. The BGR!TV Networks first program was the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 15th-anniversary Fundraising Gala which was headlined by Chaka Khan and featured Grammy-nominated artists Alice Smith and Maimouna Youssef, a.k.a. MuMu Fresh; D.C.'s all-woman go-go band Bela Dona; Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard; celebrity DJ Active; and an exclusive collaboration with Chaka Khan and Def Leppard lead guitarist Phil Collen.
In 2019, in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! hosted BGR!Fest.[7] The three-day celebration was timed to coincide with International Women's Day, and included a dance party and a weekend of music performances.[8] A second BGR!Fest was held in 2020,[9][10] The Kennedy Center announced that the BGR!FEST will return in March 2022 and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is currently collaborating with the National Symphony Orchestra to produce another event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[11]
BLACK GIRLS ROCK! also holds an annual BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference for girls and hosts educational STEM programs through its platform Girls Rock Tech![5]
Award Show
editEach year, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! celebrants are recognized in categories including, but not limited to, "The Rock Star", "Social Humanitarian", "Who Got Next?", "Living Legend", "Shot Caller", "Trailblazer", "Motivator", "Young, Gifted & Black", "Star Power", "Icon" or "Visionary" award.[12] The program features musical performances by female recording artists in the R&B and Soul music genres. Notable speakers have included Michelle Obama (2015) and Hillary Clinton (2016).[5][13]
Since its first televised ceremony on Nov 7, 2010,[14] Black Girls Rock! has become an annually televised event on BET and BET Her.[15] That year the ceremony was hosted by actress Nia Long and featured recognitions and musical performances by SWV, Coko, Raven-Symoné, Keke Palmer, Ruby Dee, Teresa Clarke, Marcelite J. Harris, Iyanla Vanzant, Kelly Price, VV Brown, Keyshia Cole, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Keri Hilson, Ciara, and Missy Elliott.[12][16]
The 2013 show garnered over 2.7 million television viewers.[17] Since 2015, the annual ceremony has been produced from Newark's New Jersey Performing Arts Center.[18]
The 2019 event was hosted by actress Niecy Nash on August 25, 2019 and aired on September 8, 2019 on BET.[19]
The award show has won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety in the Series of Special category three times (2013, 2017, 2019) and been nominated five times.[20]
Honorees
edit2006
edit- Pioneer Award – DJ Jazzy Joyce[21]
2007
edit- Creative Visionary Award – Missy Elliott[22]
- DJ Jazzy Joyce Award – DJ Diamond Cuts[22]
- Corporate Award – Sylvia Rhone[22]
2008
edit- Rock Star Award – Erykah Badu[23]
- Monument Award – Nicole Paultre-Bell and Valerie Bell[23]
- Shot Caller Award – Bethann Hardison[23]
- Fashionista Award – June Ambrose[23]
- Living Legend Award – Pam Grier[23]
- Social Humanitarian Award – Iman[23]
- Become Legendary Award – April Holmes[23]
2009
edit- Community Service Award – Dr. Mehret Mandefro[24]
- Fashionista Award – Naomi Campbell[24]
- Who Got Next Award – Janelle Monáe[24]
- Jazzy Joyce DJ Award – Spinderella[24]
- Young, Gifted and Black Award – Raven-Symoné[24]
- Living Legend Award – Dr. Sonia Sanchez[24]
- Shot Caller Award – Iyanla Vanzant[24]
- Rock Star Award – Queen Latifah[24]
- Icon Award – Mary J. Blige[24]
2010
edit- Young, Gifted & Black Award – Raven-Symoné[25]
- Visionary Award – Missy Elliott[25]
- Who Got Next? Award – Keke Palmer[25]
- Shot Caller Award – Teresa Clarke[25]
- Living Legend Award – Ruby Dee[25]
- Trailblazer Award – Major General Marcelite J. Harris[25]
- Motivator Award – Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant[25]
2011
edit- Young, Black & Gifted Award – Tatyana Ali[26]
- Star Power Award – Taraji P. Henson[26]
- Shot Caller Award – Laurel J. Richie[26]
- Living Legend Award – Shirley Caesar[26]
- Icon Award – Angela Davis[26]
- Trailblazer Awards – Imani Walker and Malika Saada Saar[26]
2012
edit- Rock Star Award – Alicia Keys[27]
- Young Gifted and Black Award – Janelle Monáe[27]
- Star Power Award – Kerry Washington[27]
- Living Legend Award – Dionne Warwick[27]
- Inspiration Award – Susan L. Taylor[27]
- Social Humanitarian Award – Dr. Hawa Abdi, Dr. Deqo Mohamed and Dr. Amina Mohamed[27]
2013
edit- Rock Star Award – Queen Latifah[28]
- Young, Gifted & Black Award – Misty Copeland[28]
- Star Power Award – Venus Williams[28]
- Living Legend Award – Patti LaBelle[28]
- Social Humanitarian Award – Marian Wright Edelman[29]
- Community Activist Award – Ameena Matthews[28]
2015
edit- Rock Star Award – Erykah Badu[30]
- Shot Caller Award – Ava DuVernay[30]
- Star Power Award – Jada Pinkett Smith[30]
- Living Legend Award – Cicely Tyson[30]
- Social Humanitarian Award – Dr. Helene D. Gayle[30]
- Change Agent Award – Nadia Lopez[30]
2016
edit- Rock Star Celebrant – Rihanna[31][32][failed verification]
- Shot Caller Celebrant – Shonda Rhimes[32][failed verification]
- Young, Gifted and Black Celebrant – Amandla Stenberg[31]
- Star Power Celebrant – Danai Gurira[31]
- Living Legend Celebrant – Gladys Knight[31]
- Community Change Agent Celebrants – Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi[32][failed verification]
2017
edit- Rock Star Celebrant – Solange[32][failed verification]
- Shot Caller Celebrant – Suzanne Shank[32][failed verification]
- Social Humanitarian Celebrant – Maxine Waters[32][failed verification]
- Star Power Celebrant – Issa Rae[32][failed verification]
- Living Legend Celebrant – Roberta Flack[32][failed verification]
- Community Change Agent Celebrants – Natalie and Derrica Wilson[32][failed verification]
- Young Gifted And Black Celebrant – Yara Shahidi[32][failed verification]
2018
edit- Rock Star Celebrant – Janet Jackson[32][failed verification]
- Star Power Award – Mary J Blige[32][failed verification]
- Living Legend Award – Judith Jamison[32][failed verification]
- Black Girl Magic – Naomi Campbell[32][failed verification]
- Shot Caller Award – Lena Waithe[32][failed verification]
- Community Change Agent Award – Tarana Burke[32][failed verification]
2019
edit- Icon Award – Angela Bassett[33]
- Star Power Award – Regina King[citation needed]
- Rock Star Award – Ciara[citation needed]
- Young, Gifted & Black Award – H.E.R.[citation needed]
- Shot Caller Award – Debra Martin Chase[citation needed]
- Community Change Agent Award – Gwen Carr, Lucy McBath, Geneva Reed-Veal, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Maria Hamilton, Sybrina Fulton[citation needed]
2018 Book: Black Girls Rock! Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth.
editIn February 2018, Simon & Schuster published Black Girls Rock! Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth. The book was edited by Beverly Bond and features insights from nearly sixty influential Black women, including Michelle Obama, Angela Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland, Yara Shahidi, and Mary J. Blige.[34][35]
References
edit- ^ Sydney Scott, "Black Girls Rock! What The Annual Celebration Of Black Magic Looked Like 10 Years Ago". Essence, October 26, 2016
- ^ Mia Hall, "7 Nonprofits Dedicated to Empowering Young Brown Girls". "NBC News", May 16, 2017
- ^ Michelle Fox, "What it takes for Black girls to become leaders, according to Michelle Obama", CNBC, Aug. 27, 2020.
- ^ BRITTO, BRITTANY (2018-03-01). "Creator of movement, awards show reveals why 'Black Girls Rock'". The Baltimore Sun.
- ^ a b c Best, Tamara (2016-04-04). "Black Girls Rock! Holds Up an Unapologetic Mirror". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Denise Petski, "Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond Inks Development Deal With BET". Deadline, March 2021.
- ^ Kai, Maiysha (2019-03-06). "On International Women's Day, Beverly Bond Breaks New Ground in D.C. with the 1st Black Girls Rock! Fest". TheRoot.
- ^ Eve M. Ferguso, "Inaugural Black Girls Rock Festival Culminates with Marathon Concert". Washington Informer, March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Inside Lauryn Hill and Alice Smith's Performance At BGR Fest 2020". Essence.
- ^ Maria F. Barrios, "Black Girls Rock! Festival returns to the Kennedy Center". Washington Post, March 4, 2020.
- ^ "NSO Pops: BLACK GIRLS ROCK! | Kennedy Center". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ a b Respers, Lisa (6 November 2010). "'Black Girls Rock!' on BET". The Marquee Blog. CNN.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ Workneh, Lilly (2016-04-06). "Black Girls Rock! Is The Ultimate Celebration Of Sisterhood". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Pendleton, Tonya. (2011). "Beverly Bond Shows, Proves that Black Girls Rock" Archived March 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
- ^ Lesley Goldberg. "Beverly Bond Inks New BET Deal for 'Black Girls Rock' Awards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter, November 18, 2013.
- ^ Wolfe, Roman (26 September 2007). "Female Rappers, Executives Honored At Black Girls Rock! Awards". AllHipHop. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "'Black Girls Rock!' to the Tune of 2.7M Viewers for BET, Increased Ratings (Exclusive)". TheWrap. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "In Newark, Michelle Obama declares 'Black Girls Rock!'", NJ.com, March 29, 2015.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 19, 2019). "Niecy Nash Set As Host For BET's Black Girls Rock! Awards". Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Beyoncé Leads the Pack of 2017 NAACP Image Awards Nominees". EW.com. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
- ^ a b "Creator of movement, awards show reveals why 'Black Girls Rock'". www.baltimoresun.com. September 25, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c Greg, Grouchy (September 26, 2007). "Female Rappers, Executives Honored At Black Girls Rock! Awards". Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos | Allhiphop. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Black Girls Rock! Awards Honor Erykah Badu, Pam Grier, Iman and More". Essence.com. December 16, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Black Girls Rock Awards". blackgirlsrock.wordpress.com. May 5, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Nia Long Hosts BET's First Ever 'Black Girls Rock' Tribute to Black Women This Sunday | EURweb". EURweb. November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Black Girls Rock! 2011" (PDF). sunsetlaneentertainment.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Obenson, Tambay A. "'Black Girls Rock!' 2012 Celebrates, Inspires On Sunday, Nov. 4 At 7pm/ET Exclusively On BET | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2013 honors black women making an impact, airs on BET". Affrodite. October 24, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ "Girlfriends Reunite at 'Black Girls Rock'!". Ebony, November 4, 2013
- ^ a b c d e f "2015 Black Girls Rock Awards Show, Newark". www.averagesocialite.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Worknegh, Lilly (June 4, 2016). "Black Girls Rock! Is The Ultimate Celebration Of Sisterhood". HuffPost.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "2016 Awards". BET.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ Sanchez, Chelsey (September 9, 2019). "Twitter Is Raving Over Angela Bassett's Powerful Speech at the Black Girls Rock! Awards". Harper's Bazaar.
- ^ Rachel Leah, "Black Girls Rock!: Celebrating the power and magic of black women". Salon, March 24, 2018.
- ^ Britto, Brittany. "Creator of movement, awards show reveals why 'Black Girls Rock'". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.