Source From http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q
Do black girls rock? You bet they do. On Sunday, November 7th at 8 p.m. BET will televise “Black Girls Rock” hosted by Nia Long, for the first time.
Black Girls Rock! is a New York City based non-profit organization founded by model turned mixmaster DJ Beverly Bond in 2006. It works to instill self-esteem in young women aged 12-17 with arts education, mentorship and public service programs.
The annual “Black Girls Rock” Awards honors a variety of women both celebrities and the less celebrated but equally important who are making their contributions to furthering sisterhood and community. But it all started with a t-shirt. Bond created one with the simple slogan “Black Girls Rock!” an idea that she decided needed to be more than just a fashion accessory.
“I wanted to honor who we are and help to create and push excellence among our girls and our youth,” says Bond, who saw a dream come true with the awards’ first national telecast on BET this year. “I started Black Girls Rock! as a reaction to what I was seeing – the one-sided imagery of women of color in media and videos and hip hop.”
This year’s award recipients include the “Visionary” award to Missy Elliot, awarded for her work as one of the music industry’s few writers and producers; the “Who Got Next?” award to teen actress Keke Palmer for her work on the big and small screens; the “Motivator” award to Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant for her work in transforming lives, and the “Living Legend” award to Ruby Dee for her lifetime achievement as an actress and author.
Raven Symone, Africa.com CEO Teresa Clarke, and Major General Marcelite J. Harris, are among other award recipients. The night’s performers include Jill Scott, Ledisi, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Kelly Price, Monica and Fantasia.
“I felt that the Black Girls Rock! Awards were necessary because I felt that we, women of color, are not recognized the way other women are recognized,” Bond says. “People aren’t going to acknowledge us. We have to acknowledge ourselves.”
To donate to Black Girls Rock! and its programs, please visit www.blackgirlsrockinc.com.
