By Jessica L. Dupree
“…If you are alive and God blessed you with another day to live, it is your job to tell your truth because if you tell your truth you’re setting yourself free and somebody else free” – Taraji P. Henson
The American Black Film Festival Honors returned to Hollywood for its 6th annual event with a line-up of A-List honorees including Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Wright, Garrett Morris, Mara Brock Akil, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Dedicated to honoring excellence in the motion picture and television industries, the joyful occasion shined light on artists who have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment and excelled in their craft.
The star-studded red-carpet appearances showcased fashion, beauty, and fulfilling conversations with celebrities expressing gratitude and gratitude for being honored at one of Hollywood’s biggest nights. As the night set in, what looked like a cast of Hollywood legends and breakout stars filled the ballroom at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Hosted by Tommy Davidson Jr., the night was rich with powerful speeches filled with truth, humor, emotion, and passion. the ABFF Honors continue to honor the achievements, embrace the culture, and celebrate the diversity that enriches the entertainment industry at large.
Rising Star Award Honoree Kelvin Harris Jr. thanked God for always recognizing him at times when he felt no one was looking his way. It was his grace in the many seasons of doubt that Harris felt was worthy of mention. He revealed that he and his team still chuckle at the idea of being labeled a rising star because it’s a title he’s worn for seven years “like the ties on his suits.”
“I started wondering if I had back problems,” Harris told the crowd humorously. “All jokes aside, I really had to ask myself: what does rising star really mean? I started to see that I was way too eager to turn something positive into something negative. And I had to unpack that from myself because my lack of faith that I won’t get to my desired destination is a “me” issue. And I wanted to look up what rising meant and what star meant and then I found this: ‘A star is a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large revolt incandescent body like the sun. Incandescent: emitting light as a result of being heated. Full of strong emotion, passion.;”
“So then I looked up the definition of rising and it said advancing to maturity or high standing,” Harris continued, “So when I put it all together I got, my passion, my gift of storytelling is leading me to mature into becoming a luminous point in at times rooms filled with darkness. A rising star is a beacon of hope, a shining light that continues to guide the way,” Harris explained of his epiphany.
Another powerful speech of the night came from Hollywood’s Leading Lady Taraji P. Henson who began by thanking God for giving her the strength to keep going. “There are times I don’t want to keep going, you know,” she told the crowd. “You know the struggle, but at the end of the day there were those that stood before us all and that’s why we are here able to stand for those coming behind us,” she said.
As she pointed to her left arm, the star actress spoke to the audience of truth. “I got this tattoo years ago— [that means] “truth”. Because at the end of the day that’s all we have is our truth. And if you are alive and God blessed you with another day to live, it is your job to tell your truth because if you tell your truth, you’re setting yourself free and somebody else free. But if you stay quiet nothing changes. Squeaky wheels get fixed.”
Henson continued: “… It’s a scary thing to tell your truth because you just never know what’s going to happen but at the end of the day I know God. I know God is going to always have my back. And when I’m speaking my truth it is what it is. You can’t change it, it’s the truth. And it’s mine, you can’t take that away from me or you. So if you have a story, you must tell it, and for God’s sake, please tell your truth. And when you’re doing this thing, I know we have our trials and tribulations and sometimes you feel like the work is to no avail–but it is. Even in those dark moments, your work matters. And in those dark moments I challenge you to continue and to fight for your joy because that is what is going to keep you alive and that is what is going to give you [what you need]to continue to fight. But we are in this together. If you need a soldier by your side to fight, I’m here. Just keep telling your truth because again that’s all we have and I’m proud of everyone in this room.”
Each hand selected audience member raised a glass in celebration, extended a hand in camaraderie, and collectively rejoiced in the resilience and power of the community. A spin-off of the American Black Film Festival that was founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday, the ABFF Honors is executive produced by Nicole and Jeff Friday of Nice Crowd in association with dePasse Jones Entertainment and Rikki Hughes of Magic Lemonade. Mr. Friday’s conviction is that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF is the leading festival of its kind showcasing Black storytelling while the Honors help to highlight those storytellers who are changing the world as we know it.
