Celebrity Coverage
2024 David C. Driskell Awards Gala: Naomi Beckwith Continues to Highlight African American Art and its Untold Stories

Photo: David Head, courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Atlanta’s art scene has grown lately thanks to the town’s stellar list of galleries and shops, in addition to the emergence of Atlanta Art Week. Among the growing creative community, the David C. Driskell Awards is a crowning jewel. The nineteenth annual ceremony honored Naomi Beckwith, who in 2021 became the Guggenheim Museum’s first Black deputy director and chief curator. Her efforts in the sphere of African American art have been invaluable and exude all the pieces that this coveted award embodies.
Founded by High Art Museum in 2005, the Driskell Prize recognizes groundbreaking contributions to black art from among the nation’s leading scholars and artists. Due to its prestige, the annual gala gathers the best and brightest participants on this planet of art. This 12 months, the event began with a trendy red carpet, where participants could immortalize this evening for a lifetime. With celebrities including Valerie Cassel Oliver, Tanya Sam, Egypt Sherrod, Charly Palmer, Jeezy, Sergio Hudson and more, the 2024 event was set to turn out to be probably the most memorable in its history.
After a pre-gala cocktail reception within the museum’s atrium, guests were ushered into the major hall where the awards ceremony was to begin. After taking their seats, everyone could enjoy appetizers and dishes inspired by Southern cuisine. Randall Suffolk, director of the High Museum of Art, soon took the rostrum, emphasized the importance of the Driskell Award and introduced the centerpiece of the evening – Naomi Beckwith.
Beckwith appeared on stage and was rewarded with a sea of applause. She began by thanking the jury and showing gratitude for being chosen for such an honorable distinction. The Chicago native also spoke about Dr. Driskell’s legacy and how vital effective collaboration is for artists and curators. “I believe in this practice of working together,” she said during her moving speech. “I believe in collectivity because I know that for Black people especially, collectivity has been our strength and actually the source of our joy.”
The Courtauld graduate then spoke concerning the obstacles artists of color have had to overcome over time and the way it continues to motivate her work. “My job is to bring the gift of Black art and Black artists to the world, so until we truly see the canon of Black art history permeating global institutions, I will have no rest,” Beckwith said. She concluded by thanking her friends, colleagues, family and partner before delivering an ode to the award. “I am incredibly happy to hold this award so close to my heart,” she stated. “I make a public promise to all of you in this field that I will honor the legacy of this award, this gift and this work.”
After Beckwith’s speech, the celebration continued with an official afterparty featuring DJ Princess Cut and Grammy Award-winning DJ Drama. In attendance were Eva Marcille, Killer Mike, Tyler Mitchell and Ebony G. Patterson, amongst others, making the first-ever post-gala celebration truly memorable.
The David C. Driskell Award is the primary within the nation to recognize the importance of African-American art. This award alternates between an African-American artist based within the United States and an art historian whose artistic practice or scholarly work makes an original and vital contribution to the visual arts and black art studies.
Celebrity Coverage
Nowa Music: Coco Jones, Megan Thee Stallion, Destin Conrad – Essence

Happy Friday, people. Today it is especially unique since it comprises debut albums from The Stars of Tomorrow, in addition to declines from the icons of the golden years of hip-hop-and all the pieces in between.
Coco Jones drops its debut studio album with 14 amazing songs. By adding to the list of efforts, the singer Destin Conrad, and rapper Tde Ray Vaughn provides. On the opposite hand, Wu-Tang Clan and Mathematics merge with the participation of all nine members of the legendary collective. Our list also includes music from Megan Thee Stallion, PinkPantheress, Tiwa Savage and others.
Look at today’s summary of recent editions below.
Celebrity Coverage
Issa Rae, Rashida Jones and Tracee Ellis Ross Talk “Black Mirror” – Essence

Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Rashida Jones within the 7 Netflix season “Black Mirror”. Thanks to the kindness of Netflix.
He returns to the seventh season, with the composition of the celebrities, which incorporates Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross and Issa Rae-wheres enter the strange kingdoms of the science fiction series with an unknown comedy and deep human emotions.
Netflix occupies its own species. The canon of science fiction anthology created by the English author Charlton Brooker (and sometimes satirically educates) viewers about technology that is flexible; Making a full of life life unprofitable in a way that we cannot break away from our devices to get a greater well -being. On April 10, he returns with 6 episodes to its very anticipated recent season. In the episode “Hotel Reverie” presents the actor and author Issa Rae Racing Against the Rolling Credits within the variety of Hollywood. In the episode “ordinary people” they present Rashida Jones and Tracee Ellis Ross, who do all the things to fight their very own human mortality. Due to the extremist, butalistic points of Brooker’s plot, swinging in the outline of how human death comes from our external attachment to technology, works strongly with large doses of dark comedy and indefinite human emotions.

Rae throws a tuxedo on Vintage and replaces the figure of Alex Palmer, a drugs doctor who saves this present day in a fictitious cinema. The winner of the Emmy Award plays Black Woman Stand-in for a white male hero in an imaginary story to alter the recognition of the franchise from Keyworth Pictures. Combining how Rae undermines roles and stories to contain more black perspectives, the meta concept is that “Hotel Reverie” begins with Rae as Brandy Friday, an extended -term actress who tries to find her profession with a daring role after a sense of a drawer through fame. “This period is very limited in terms of what Hollywood does and what they are afraid to expose and risk,” Issa Rae jogs my memory of the Beverly Hills hotel. He bends forward: “I want to get out of the agreement, I just want to do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
The sentiments of the natives in California within the face of the industry relate to the figure of Brandy Friday, who’s on the lookout for creative inspiration and redemption. On Friday, he materializes that the hero with sex switching within the historic IP of the Film Studio within the historic IP of the Film Studio, in keeping with revolutionary progress in AI Tech Service, Redroom. An try to acclimatize to its recent film environment causes a cataclysm change in the unique story that revolves across the star Dorothy (Emma Corrin) and her romantic affinity. “Dorothy and Alex Palmer have long gone, but this does not mean that they have nothing to say about how their images are used and we have to do it,” Rae describes how her character is imported to Vintage of the film, refers back to the early AI technology. “Even when artificial intelligence is fed with a lot of writers in Hollywood scripts,” Issa Rae continues: “All this is finally excluded [us] writers. “

The stakes of the episode change into tragic when Friday fights for survival with time, human nature and the black and white megahit aesthetics from the Nineteen Thirties. In addition, he must follow the plot to remain alive, he does it for the plot for his own safety. In real life, Rae refers to being the foremost film through which she decided to live if she had a likelihood when on a regular basis technology develops.
Like one other character, in “ordinary people”, Rashida Jones (Amanda) is a teacher who suffers from a serious health accident and must use the brain wave technology to proceed to live. Tracee Ellis Ross is Gaynor, a supporter of Rivermind fashion sales, an invasive mental device used to guard the brain against disease. “There is always enthusiasm when it comes to innovation,” says Jones, sitting next to his colleague from Ross in New York. “People who are enthusiastic can be radically opposed to really consider the long tail of innovation. A breakthrough that does not really consider ethical parameters around how it can take place in the real world.”
Gaynor provides Amanda Rivermind, and the creator of the series plays in a way that subscriptions took over our subconscious. Ross’s form balances the morbid tone of the episode, because we experience a household damaged from economic burdens, health terror and high contributions. “When medicine is involved; so technology and science, we are in a sense to believe in it as always a good thing,” Ross enters. “But we must have time to process what is the greater consequences” are a service that priority treats profit in the sphere of human protection.

Both the episodes of “Hotel Reverie” and “ordinary people” include organizations run by women with management reminiscent of Ross and Awkwafina. Brooker joins the evolution of the evolution of technology and science in the best way the characters perceive their distorted reality with the addition of latest progress. Jones and Rae play in a difficult situation who try to adapt to the world around them, falling victim to those that prey to individuals with financial profit. “I often consider mortality,” admits Jones when he was asked in regards to the pain of his character. “I want to be fine with my death. I want to be fine because I can be with the fact that everyone I love, die and accept beauty and reality.”
He examines really gloomy topics that query clouded decisions on the earth during excruciating life moments. Brooker uses a comic book glow that comes from Rae, Jones and Ross, and puts them in mental dilemmas that test their connections with their very own humanity. “Our stories [as Black women] They are so multidimensional and it seems to me that we barely outlined the surface, “says Rae with the sunshine of charisma, despite the tangible rejection, which is to inform more black women’s stories.” This is an exciting part. We have survived so much throughout the story throughout the story, which is not untouched. “
Celebrity Coverage
WNBA star Aliyah Boston’s Best Assist? Showing the properties of young women of black women is achievable – essence

Uncasville, Connecticut – May 14: Aliyah Boston #7 Indiana Fever looks before the match against Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 14, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Note for the user: The user clearly confirms and agrees that by downloading and or using this photo, the user agrees to the terms of the Getty Images license agreement. (Photo Elsa/Getty Images)
For many young skilled athletes, life is defined by continuous movement.
They spend hours and weeks at training, away matches and latest team cities, which is not exhausting for the body, but in addition the mind. But the star of WNBA Aliyah Boston finally finds his room and involves put away the roots in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of only 23 years old.
Indiana fever that earned Rookie of the Year Honors in 2023She was in constant motion since she was 12 years old when she left her family home in the US Virgin Islands to implement basketball possibilities in the United States. Now he takes a distinct type of milestone: home owner.
“Entering my new home in Charlotte and realizing that it was my amazing moment,” says Boston Essence. “There was a deep sense of achievement and independence, knowing that I achieved this milestone.”
Boston’s journey to the owner of the house occurs at a time when such achievement is increasingly beyond the reach of many young Americans. According to Latest data From Zillow, lonely women gene with only 5% of all buyers of houses throughout the country. For Boston, securing her own space is greater than a financial investment.
After transition years – from the Virgin Islands to continental America, through her profession in Southern Carolina, where she led GameCocks to the national championships, to the election of the first in the general classification in 2023 a draft in Indiana Fever – Boston defines what the house means.
“I think there are several meanings,” she explained. “I found out figuratively, that a house is more than a place – it is a sense of comfort and belonging, and I was lucky that in many different places for years.”
For Boston, the process of becoming the owner of the house was not without challenges. Like many buyers for the first time, especially those in the twenties, navigating the mortgages, inspections and closures turned out to be discouraging.
“Moving around the housing market and understanding all details can be overwhelming, especially for young people,” she said. “I learned that you don’t have to do it yourself. Like basketball, you want to gather a team of experts who will support you through this process.”
Boston’s announcement in Boston appears shortly after a colleague WNBA Rising Star Angel Reese made an identical power movement by buying his first house at the age of 22. These young athletes construct generational wealth at the starting of their profession, giving an example to other young black women who can see the owner of the house.
“For my black women generation with, who think that the owner of the house is out of reach, I want to say it’s possible!” Boston emphasized. “Educate about this process, look for resources and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Thanks to determination and appropriate support, you can do it!”
On the pitch, Boston still imprints his trail in the era of WNBA full of young talents. After her outstanding debut season, wherein she On average, 14.5 points and eight.4 rebounds per matchShe considered herself one of the most vital players in the league and defensive anchors.
“It’s really an exciting time in WNBA and women’s sports,” Boston wondered. “We are surrounded by veterans of legends, and at the same time so many talented young players impress their trail. Energy is electric, and fans that in my opinion noticed what was fantastic for the development of the game.”
Asked about her relationship with a colleague from class 2023 Caitlin Clark, who drew unprecedented attention to the league, Boston emphasized cooperation on the competition.
“We make every effort to remain grounded and faithful to who we are. I am blessed that I have a family around me and a team of people who keep me on the right track,” she said. “Caitlin and I have great relationships and we focus on mutual support and raising all women in the league and outside. We are competitive on the pitch and wants to win, but at the end of the day it’s all love.”
WNBA has recorded record turnout and viewership this season, with young stars, resembling Boston, Clark, Reese and others attracting latest women’s basketball recipients. In the case of Boston, this growth appears to be validation of the labor, which she and her peers interjected during their journeys.
Looking back at his path from the Virgin Islands to Wnba Stardom, and now the owner of the house, Boston has a message for the younger self: “Be concentrated and continue to trust God’s plan for you. Every challenge and failure is the opportunity to develop and get closer to your dreams.”
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