Baller Alert caught up with Angela Rye at the Essence Black Women In Hollywood Awards ceremony held this past weekend in Los Angeles.
Rye spoke exclusively about how honored she feels to be considered a voice for black women, “It is my honor to be able to say what I believe on air without apology, without repentance, just knowing that that is our collective truth. The number of black women who say I speak for them…I ‘ll never forget how much of an honor and privilege that is,” she said.
Rye also spoke about the benefits of being a black woman in Hollywood, saying there are so many. “Our style, the sayings we come up with, the way our brains- the way we can strategize and move through any hardships- our resilience,” she said, beaming with a smile.
For the thirteenth year in a row, Essence has worked to honor black women in Hollywood who are so often overlooked during the Oscars weekend full of festivities. As Black women continue to shape culture and create art that will impact generations, phenomenal women like Rye gathered together to celebrate this year’s honorees, which included Niecy Nash, Melina Matsoukas, Lashana Lynch, and the cast of Pose, along with its executive producer Janet Mock.
Rye shared many characteristics that make black women powerful, saying, “I am so proud to be standing here as a black woman, and like I said, I’m proud to be here supporting black women.”
