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LOS ANGELES — “Oh my God, I love this event.”
This audible exhale from Teyana Taylor seemed to echo as she took the stage at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event last Thursday. As the program progressed, it became the resounding sentiment in every word, embrace and chuckle that filled the room.
Essence’s annual Oscar-week event returned to the Fairmount Century Plaza in Beverly Hills. The year’s theme was “Off Script,” putting the spotlight on Black women who have defied the industry’s odds and broken through in meaningful ways both on and off screen.
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Kicking off the evening was host Marsai Martin, the young multi-hyphenate known for her work on ABC’s hit series “black-ish.” R&B singer and actor Tyrese also serenaded the crowd with a version of his signature hit “Sweet Lady.”
Taylor presented her “One Battle After Another” co-star Chase Infiniti with the Rising Star Award. Following Infiniti’s graduation from college in 2022, she quickly booked her role in Apple TV’s “Presumed Innocent” before bursting on the scene as Willa in the Academy Award-winning film. As her family watched her from the crowd, Infiniti beamed with pride as she thanked other Black actors who have come before her, citing Taylor, Regina Hall and Ruth Negga as mentors.
“My career, though it’s just starting, has been marked by the generosity and mentorship of other Black women who have paved this path for me,” Infiniti said. “I feel grateful and honored to be here today, and more than anything, extremely grateful to have been welcomed into this community.”
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Actor Jurnee Smollett took the stage to introduce her godmother, actor and director LaTanya Richardson Jackson, with the Legacy Award. Through personal anecdotes about her godmother’s philanthropy and being-the-scenes generosity, Smollett set the stage for one of Black Hollywood’s beloved stars.
Richardson Jackson then gave a rousing acceptance speech, eliciting rounds of applause, oohs, aahs and pensive hmms as she spoke about facing adversity and finding purpose through art.
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“God put a light inside all of us, and that light is for you to shine,” Richardson Jackson said. “You don’t need to chase the shiny thing — you are the shiny thing!”
She closed her speech with a shout-out to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who received a standing ovation. She was one of three politicians embraced by the crowd, alongside Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
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Actor Kerry Washington received the Cultural Icon Award at the ceremony. Following a heartwarming introduction from her “UnPrisoned” co-star Delroy Lindo.
During her 12-minute acceptance speech, Washington referenced the 2012 Black Women in Hollywood ceremony, which was held just before the launch of her trailblazing show “Scandal.” She noted that she had been nervous about being in a room with “probably about 30 other talented and deserving women” who had read for the role of Olivia Pope. But what surprised her most was the overwhelming support she received.
“Despite my fears, I got up and I started to speak, and when I felt the love and support in this room, something in me got set free,” she recalled. “The energy in this room on that day was all love and generosity. You weren’t waiting for me to fail, you were praying for me to win … and I felt it.”
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The lovefest continued with the final honorees of the evening, Zinzi Coogler, Visionary Award recipient, and the women of “Sinners”: Hannah Beachler, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Ruth E. Carter, Autumn Durald Arkapow and Shunika Terry-Jennings.
Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler provided introductory remarks, with the latter pouring his heart out on stage for his wife of 10 years.
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“She is brilliant, and she is a phenomenal leader,” Coogler said. “I lead for work all the time; I lead in my family. It’s nice to come home to someone I know I can trust to lead.”
The women of “Sinners” then took the stage, with an emotional Zinzi Coogler leading the speeches, followed by Carter and Mosaku. Like Infiniti, Coogler honored those who came before her, specifically her and her husband’s parents.
“The four of them modeled diligence, focus, empathy, patience and love for our community,” Coogler said tearfully. “Our parents were all creative, but because of the time and place they were born, they couldn’t explore their artistry, and sacrificed so Ryan and I could.”
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For the final performance of the evening, singer Mya performed “Unbreakable” as the crowd began buzzing. As soon as Martin officially closed out the event, the room swelled with the sound of catch-ups, conversations and first meets. Peers and young hopefuls swarmed the honorees, asking for photos. And in a now-viral moment, actor Zendaya broke away from the pack and headed across the room to meet current it-girl Olandria Carthen, the breakout star of the popular Peacock reality show “Love Island USA.”
“I will NEVER get over this moment,” Carthen later posted on X. “I almost fainted when I seen her coming towards me with the biggest smile on her face.”
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Evidently, that’s the true essence of what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood. From actors to personalities to musicians and everything in between, there’s nothing quite like the sisterhood that stems from a similar lived experience. After seeing the love unfold throughout the day, it’s no surprise that this is such a coveted event to attend.
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