Black Girls Rock Awards 2010

October 16th at the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx, Beverly Bond, founder of Black Girls Rock and Debra Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings, Inc., the parent company for Black Entertainment Television, celebrated the 5th annual Black Girls Rock Awards, celebrating the brilliance of black women. The organization founded by celebrity DJ and former model, Beverly Bond, Black Girls Rock! ™ Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that is dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls.

Black Girls Rock! ™ Inc. seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons and helping them empower themselves.

Sociable Susan was on hand to witness the event and party with the celebrities. The colors of the night were pink and black, which showed the event was clearly a girlie event, although supportive men were very welcome.

The event celebrating the brilliance of black women started with and was routinely interjected with comedy by Erin Jackson, who delivered hilariously clean, funny and side splitting comedy.

The first musical performance was by Jill Scott, who sang her hit song, Golden. Her performance was accompanied by black garbed, and bright yellow fan swinging lithe dancers.

Ms. Nia Long, the evening's host was next. Sporting a short hair cut, and wearing a mini form fitting gold and silver dress, she showed why she's held her own in Hollywood for so long. She conducted the event like a consummate professional. Memorable comments she made include, "We are taking our freedom, taking ourselves off the shelf, recognizing ourselves. We are shining and living our lives like it's golden. Tonight is a night of strength, beauty and grace. We are recognizing the influence and beauty of black women. It's great to be a black woman in America. For the first time ever, black girls are rocking the white house. Black women that rock are women who defy labels. We celebrate icons, local heroes and those next in line.”

The Black Girls Rock awards and recipients are:
1. Raven Simone
2. Teresa Clarke
3. Missy Elliott
4. Major General Marcelite J. Harris
5. Iyanla Vanzant
6. Keke Palmer
7. Ms. Ruby Dee

The “Rock Star” Award was awarded to the fierce and fearless woman who has successfully pushed the envelope and carved a niche where other artists dutifully follow.

The Social Humanitarian Award honored the artist that uses her celebrity to raise awareness about world issues, voluntarily giving to the community and addressing the emotional, physical and material needs of people in crisis, hardship and impoverished conditions.

The Who Got Next? Award recognized ultimate talent straight, ‘out the gate.’ This fire-starter has already created a buzz and proved herself as a force to be reckoned with.

The Living Legend Award was given to a select individual of remarkable talent whose life long contributions and accomplishments have enriched and advanced our culture.

The Young Gifted & Black Award was presented to the young go-getter under the age of 25 who has achieved an insurmountable amount of success through ideal metamorphosis, and the acute ability to stand and deliver.

Nia, stated, "It's as much about you and every black girl. You'll see yourself in their beauty and in their fire. Believe in yourself fearlessly. We celebrate you, so let's get this party started, because black girls’ rock."

Melinda Williams presented the award to Raven Simone. She stated “I’m happy to be a black girl who rocks.” Raven started playing Olivia in the Cosby show at 4 years old. Many other roles including the show, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, followed. She was signed by MCA Records at 5 years old and became a Disney darling, starring in Disney franchises including Cheetah Girls and That's So Raven. Realizing true power was behind the camera, she became a producer and executive producer at 18 years old. She acts in front of the camera and works behind the scenes as producer, so she is still creative. Accomplishing so much at just 24 years old, Raven Simone shows that you can never start too early to control your destiny.”

A video of Raven Simone was played, in which she made memorable quotes which include, "I've been told no, more than I've been told yes, but I say you're not the person I should be talking to. No matter what you do, it's important to stay true to yourself."

Raven then came on to the stage and graciously accepted the award. She quoted Rev. Martin Luther King, by stating, “Our lives end as soon as we start being silent about things that mean something to us.” She continued her acceptance speech by stating, “It's up to us to open doors for other females, if it wasn't for people who opened doors for me, I wouldn't be here. For all the guys out there, let's work on showing respect to the females. Let's get it together.”

There was an honorable mention and picture showing of Mobile Dance Academy owner, 12 year old Amiya Japeri Alexander and her mobile dance academy where she teaches dance and even offers scholarships.

The second performance of the evening was by fashionable, side-studded, knee high boot wearing singer, Shontelle, who was introduced by Nia as a girl who believes in no gravity and is determined to let nothing hold down. She performed her song, Impossible, while pictures of New York City skyline at night was shown, as a gray outfit clad dancer moved fluidly to the song.

A short Video of actress, Tracey Ellis Ross was shown, in which she stated, “Black girls who rock include, Michelle Obama, Diana Ross, Maya Angelou, Sade, Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Viola Davis, Nina Simone, Tina Turner and Tracy Ellis Ross.”

Free, who was a presenter said, "If you're a black who rocks, say yeah" and we all responded enthusiastically. She presented the award to Teresa Clark, the CEO of Africa.com, a website launched in February 2010 that is dedicated to projecting positive images of Africa, to help the West understand Africa and to undo some of the Western media's focus on negative images of the continent. The website which also runs a scholarship program for South African Children has become a leading website for the whole continent. Teresa herself lived in South Africa for five years and with three degrees from Harvard, a Wall Street career, which includes her being the 1st female African American Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, it’s obvious that she knows what she is doing.

In her short video, she stated, “No dream is too hard, and success is knowing you've made a difference in someone else's life.”

Black girl’s Rock Shot Caller, Teresa, congratulated Beverly Bond on her vision, and the expansion of that vision from mentoring 12 girls to the event that is now being viewed by the entire BET audience. To show her world knowledge, she addressed the different categories of black girls who rock around the world including, the British Caribbean girls in London, the Senegalese girls in France, the Nigerian girls in Lagos, and the colored girls in South Africa, on whose behalf she accepted the award.

The next performance was by beautiful singer, Keri Hilson, who is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, because of her ability to sing and pen songs for other artists. With her blonde bob cut tresses, her black mini V neck outfit and shining gold stilettos, she wowed the audience as she sang her song, Breaking Point.

The next honorable mention was of Hydeia Broadbent who contracted HIV from her drug addicted mother and is now an International AIDS advocate.

Ciara was next as she presented Missy Elliott with the Visionary Award after stating, “Missy showed that the best way to stand out is to be yourself. She proves we can write, create and produce. She broke into the music boys club and started her own label. She's my best friend. She also gives the best advice and prayers.”

Missy then said in her video “I can rap, sing, write, and produce. I can do ballet in a tutu, if you allow me. It started with The Rain. Being a visionary is being a leader. Be a visionary, they'll catch up.”

While receiving her award she said, “It's okay to have an imagination. I had someone like a Mary J. Blige teach me before I came out.” To the ladies, she gave her usual good advice, "Act like you want to be treated. Act like a lady."

The next video was of Rosalyn Brock, the youngest Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association For The Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP). She stated, “A black woman who rocks is one who walks with distinction and integrity. The black women who rock are Dorothy Height, Merle Evers, and my mother. I'm fierce, I'm fabulous, and I rock.”

The next performance was by Monica. Nia Long introduced her by stating, "She's not just standing, she's soaring. Monica, sporting a short hair cut, dressed in a black military inspired suit with matching black and silver hoop earrings looked like she stepped off this fall season's runway. After asking us to pump our fists like she was doing, she ended her song, Still Standing, with the following touching lyrics, "You can't take my joy, because you didn't give it to me."

The next video was of the gospel sister duo Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell of Mary Mary, with one stating, “I work hard to live a passionate life with compassion,” and the other stating, “I'm a black girl who rocks, who tells the world who God is.”

Actress and comedienne Kim Whitley was next. After warning us all that in spite of the spanx she was wearing, she might burst out of her outfit any moment, stated, “Black girls rock because of our hair. India Aire may not be her hair, but I see one million dollars worth of weaves in this building. I see you lace front, I see you. You can't tell a black girl nothing when we walk out of that hair salon. We can do anything till the rain comes.” She then introduced British recording artist, V. V. Brown about whom she stated, “She has been making waves in her hometown of Britain, and I know she's running from the rain," referring to Brown's waist length hair.

V.V. Brown performed her tambourine embellished song, Shock In The Water, wearing a silver dress with her sleek black hair hanging down to her waist, and accompanied by tambourine playing dancers.

Keri Hilson introduced Major Marcelite J. Harris who has been many "firsts" for women in the Air Force by stating, “It's hard to stay in line in the military, but she went to the front of the line. She's the first black female general in the US Air Force. She's the Department of Defence's (DOD) most powerful woman. She has been appointed as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy by President Barak Obama.”

Via video, Major Marcelite J. Harris stated, "I never thought of being a General, I just wanted to be good. Being told I can't do something because I'm a woman is the silliest thing I ever heard. Life may knock you down, but get back up, and wipe yourself off. Life keeps going".

After saluting the special guy in her life, she stated to the young black girls who rock, "You've got to like what you're doing and with whom you're doing it. You've got to like to get up in the morning. For those from 9-99, don't try to be a special person. You already are a special person, and always remember you're a phenomenal black girl who rocks.

Keisha Cole wearing a pair of spectacular thigh high boots, performed a magnificently soul stirring rendition of her song, I Remember.

The next video was of Ms. Debra Lee of BET who said, “I had great role models such as the Supremes, Shirley Chisolm, and Barbara Jordan. I rock because I care about my community and using BET as a vehicle to change our world every day.”

Estelle presented Iyanla Vanzant with her award after stating in the introduction, “She is a spiritual life coach and one of the leading voices of empowerment. Iyanla Vanzant is motivation personified. We celebrate our Black Girls Rock Motivator, Iyanla Vanzant.”

While receiving her award, Ms. Vanzant stated, “Black girls need to be motivated. It takes the older woman midwives to pull the younger women through. I began to emulate black women living the life I wanted to live. If I stand tall it's because I stand on the backs of Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Sonia Sanchez, the instruments God used to show me what was possible.”

“I share the award with every single in the project not knowing where her next meal is coming from. Every young girl who has had her innocence and purity stolen. Women who were told they could not and should not, but said tada! and did it anyway. I was called a menace to society because I had my 40 year old son who’s now my assistant, and I was a single mother living on welfare.”

“Black girls rock because we have no other choice. We have the responsibility to rock our families, communities and the planet, so our grandmothers will know they didn't die in vain.”

The View’s host, Sherri Shepherd’s video was next. She said, I rock because I'm a mother, I'm a survivor.” Her advice to young girls was, “Believe in your dreams, and follow it. Don't pay attention to the nos.”

Raven Simone presented the Who Got Next Award to Black Girls Rock celebrant, Keke Palmer, after stating, “I know too many girls buy into the idea that sex sells, but she won't compromise herself. She plays True Jackson VP, the young Vice President of a fashion company's youth apparel division, which is a powerful image for America to see every week.”

Via video, Keke Palmer whose big break was staring as Akeela in the movie, Akeela and the Bee said, “There's more of the negative than of the positive. You can be anything you want to be just try. A lot of black girls don't know they rock."

The next honorable mention was of MAD Award winner, about whom Nia said “Kerry Fulton who has dedicated herself to environmental justice and climate change initiatives. She led the first student summit on climate. She proved black girls can go green. For that, Kerry Fulton, you rock.”

The creator of Black Girls Rock, Beverly Bond’s video was next, in which she stated, “This is an affirmation for black women.” She talked about her organization, Black Girls Rock which started as DJ mentorship program.” Her advice to young black girls is, “Value yourself, and take your time growing up. Strive for goals you pursue. A black girl who rocks has confidence, integrity, is empowered, fearless and strong. Instead of being defined, we're defining ourselves.”

She then came up on stage and said, “I am Beverly Bond, and I'm a black girl that rocks. This marks the beginning. We celebrate our sisters and sheroes. Ruby Dee says, while we're on this earth, life's journey is about learning what that is.”

Beverly bond, the creator of Black Girls Rock is dedicated to empowering girls by presenting positive images of black women to young girls, many of whom are exhibiting unhealthy behavior because of low self esteem and self worth; because they feel they must undo their dignity to be recognized.

Actress, Anika Noni Rose’s video was next via which she said, “I rock because I'm a teacher, I'm a learner, and I transcend time.

Three mighty musical ladies of soul namely; Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott, Kelly Price, and Ledisi sang a soul stirring song as black and white pictures of past and present powerful black women such as Maya Angelou, Rosetta Jordan, Rosa Parks, Madam CJ Walker, Shirley Chisolm, Harriett Tubman, Michelle Obama, Winnie Mandela, Michelle Obama, Josephine Baker, Oprah Winfrey, Billie Holiday, Florence Griffith Joyner, Nina Simone were displayed.

It was a great night of upliftment, encouragement and celebration. Though I’ve written a lot about the event, I haven’t given it all away. The network premiere will be televised exclusively on BET, Sunday, November 7 @ 8 – 10 PM EST/PST

Here's hoping Beverly Bond of Black Girls Rock, and Debra Lee of BET continue such an inspiring, empowering and validating event.

To donate or support the cause, text "I ROCK” (Add your donation amount) to 27138 or visit www.blackgirlsrock.com

Below are pictures from the event including celebrities and guests including me!