Black Moment of the Week :0)
I don't watch very much TV and this is one program that I'm sad I missed. Oprah's Legends Weekend was on a couple of days ago. It showed the event she planned out for 25 African-American women, ages 55 & up, who had made significant contributions to American culture, to be honored. In addition to the honorees, there were tons of notable guests 55 & under.
There's a bunch of photos on Oprah's website. These are just a few of the folks that were there:
Actors: Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard, Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, Pam Grier, Audra McDonald
Singers: Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey--yes, Mariah is black. Okay, or she thinks she is and we believe her--Valerie Simpson, Ashanti, Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan, Kathleen Battle, Melba Moore, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Yolanda Adams, Brandi
Models: Beverly Johnson, Iman, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell
Choreographers: Judith Jamison, Debbie Allen
Playwrights/Screenwriters: Anna Deavere Smith, Suzan-Lori Parks, Pearl Cleage, Darnell Martin
Authors: Terry McMillan, Susan L. Taylor
Producer: Suzanne de Passe
That's the folks from just one set of photos from one day of the event. The list of nominees is here.
I really think I would have been on the verge of passing out had I been there. From what my mom was saying, (she actually watched the program), most of the attendees felt the same way. All of the women were nationally, if not internationally known, and many of them had never met. I love this photo: Alicia Keys mediating Phyllica Rashad and Kimberly Elise's mutual amazement of one another.
I just ordered a copy of the program off of eBay. It can't get here soon enough...
Update [5/27]: I got my copy and it's grrrreat!!! You can buy one from this ebayer: starrlyte23.
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3 comments:
all i can say is --I KNOW I KNOW!!!!
I think Oprah's heart is in the right place, but I have a problem with her honoring women who already have hundreds of accolades between all of them. There are hundreds of black women in my home of Atlanta who should be honored for their achievements and contributions to the community. Women like our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and even like ourselves should receive some credit sometime for just making through the hard times. Sorry ladies Oprah doesn't do it for me.
I think half of the idea though was to get them all in one place. To me, that's the wonderment and excitement of the situation. Not Oprah. She's great and all but geez... Diamond earrings?! What differences does that make to a civil rights activist you know?
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