Three days after the Black Panther: Wankanda Forever premiere in Hollywood, the cast was honored Saturday night at the Ebony Power 100 Gala.
Film stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke and Dominique Thorne were onstage to receive the For The Culture Award from Creed III star Jonathan Majors at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, California, according to Billboard. In accepting the honor, Wright, who portrays Shuri commented, “They always said our stories wouldn’t reach … Boy, were they wrong. Thank you for breathing life into us and for your support. As always, Wakanda Forever!”
Issa Rae was presented the People’s Choice Award by Nia Long from The Best Man series. The Insecure creator said, “I create with us in mind. To get an award from the people I have in mind is amazing. [We must] continue to value our stories; that’s the reason I’m here.”
Spike Lee was honored with the Icon Award. Roger Guenveur Smith, who has starred in several of the director’s films, including Do The Right Thing, School Daze and Malcolm X, presented the award to the trailblazing director, saying, “He continues to transform the complexion of American filmmaking.”
In accepting the honor, the Academy Award winner thanked three key women in his life. He saluted his mother for giving him discipline, his grandmother who “put me through Morehouse, NYU grad school and helped with my first films,” and his wife, Tonya Lee Lewis. “She has made it possible for me to do everything; she held it down,” he said of Tonya.
Other 100 Power honorees included Usher, H.E.R., Emmy-award winner Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary, and Nigerian artist Tems, co-writer of Rihanna’s new single, “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Dabney Coleman, ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Tootsie’ star, dead at 92
May 17, 2024
CBS via Getty ImagesDabney Coleman, best known for his role as the sexist boss of Dolly Parton,…
Music notes: Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter and more
May 17, 2024
Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, SOUR, just hit a major milestone. It's now the all-time…
Hear Miley Cyrus sing Talking Heads, Demi Lovato sing The Temptations
May 17, 2024
A24Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato are two artists who can pretty much sing anything, and they both…
Laura Dern, Margaret Qualley to star in series adaptation of ‘Forever, Interrupted’
May 17, 2024
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesLaura Dern and Margaret Qualley are…
‘Young Sheldon’ goes out with a big bang: series finale hits four-year audience high
May 17, 2024
Robert Voets/2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.It’s no theory – Young Sheldon went out with a big…
New Music Friday: Bebe Rexha, Dinah Jane, NKOTB and more
May 17, 2024
Bebe Rexha is back with a new single, "Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)," which also has a video to go with…
Report: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce stayed in $21,000 per night Italian villa
May 17, 2024
Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementTaylor Swift had a few days off before her…