Honorees For The 16th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Announced

The 16th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards, which recognize Black women “making their undeniable mark in film and television and forging forward their own definition of what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood,” has announced their honorees.

On March 9th, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, executive Tara Duncan (President of Freeform and Onyx Collective), director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), actress Danielle Deadwyler (Till), actress Dominique Thorne (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will all be honored.

Presenters will include actor and producer Yara Shahidi and “Till” filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu.

“For more than a decade and a half, Essence has championed the Black Women in Hollywood Awards to commemorate the Black women who are the story makers, storytellers, story-doers, and story-sharers that cultivate the entertainment ecosystem that the world cherishes and loves deeply,” said president and CEO of Essence Ventures Caroline Wanga. “We are privileged to have this sacred platform that illuminates the ongoing accomplishments of Black women at our annual luncheon in its 16th year since inception.  Whether the world acknowledges it or not, Black women are the CEOs of home, culture, and community, and because of that role, when you engage with her, you engage with the Black community as a whole.”

Fans can tune into the red carpet live stream at 11 am PT.  It will be available to stream on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com.

Black Women in Hollywood began as a 400-person luncheon 16 years ago and has expanded into an “oasis of sisterhood and a safe space for Black women to fully see, hear, and embrace one another.”

On March 10th, Essence will also hold its fourth annual Essence Hollywood House event that offers live content and thought-provoking discussion to promote greater inclusivity in Hollywood.