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Announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
GOOD EVENING.
IT'S MY HONOR AND PLEASURE
TO JOIN IN THE ESSENCE AWARDS CELEBRATION
OF OUTSTANDING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.
OUR COUNTRY'S BEEN ENRICHED
BY THE CONTRIBUTNS OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES.
THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS REPRESENT THE MANY WAYS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE VITAL HE STRENGTH OF AMERICA.
FROM ENTERTAINMENT TO POLITICS
FROM THE SPORTS ARENA
TO THE GRASSROOTS OF COMMUNITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISM
THESE EIGHT WOMEN HAVE USED THEIR GIFTS■■
TO TRANSFORM THEMSELVES
AND THROUGH THEIR COMMITMENT
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO OUR NATION.
Captioning made possible by ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS and CBS
Announcer: FROM NEW YORK CITY, IT'S THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARDS.
♪ I'M EVERY WOMAN... ♪
HOSTING TONIGHT'S CELEBRATION ARE:
■
♪ I EVERY WAN ♪
♪ I'M EVE WOMAN♪
LAES AND GENTLEMEN, SS PAT LaBELLE.
AND MR. DANNY GLOVER.
♪
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE
AND WELCOME TO THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARDS.
THIS EVENING, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE LIVES
OF EIGHT OUTSTANDING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN--
WOMEN WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR WORLDS AND OURS.
TONIGHT'S HONOREES INCLUDE AMERICA'S FIRST
AFRICAN-AMICAN FEMALE SENATOR
CAROMOSELEY-BRAUN.
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, GAIL DEVERS.
YES.
A MIRACLE WORKER FROM WATTS, CALIFORNIA
OWN AS "SWEEALICE" HARRIS.
YE
CHICAGWION HAWKINS.
AND THE WOMAN KNOWN
AS THE MOTHER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
MISS ROSA PARKS.
THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF SOUL
MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN.
LaBelle: YEAH!
WE GOT SOME MORE FOR YOU.
LEGENDARY STAR OF STAGE, SCREEN, AND SONG
NE.
I'M SCARED OF HER.
AND ROCK MUSIC ICON
THE SENSATIONAL, MMM, MISS THING
TINA TURNER.
TONIGHT'S HONOREES ARE WOMEN WITH A PASSION FOR LIFE
WOMEN WHO WOULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER
WOMEN WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY.
THEY HAVE SHOWN US THE TRUE MEANING
OF THE WORDS "STRENGTH," "COURAGE," "ARTISTRY"
AND "COMMITMENT."
HERE TO KICK OFF TONIGHT'S CELEBRATION
AND HONOR THE FIRST LADY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL--
MISS TINA TURNER--
IS ONE OF HER BIGGEST AND FUNNIEST ADMIRERS
MR. BILL COSBY.
LENA HORNE SAID
"EVERY WOMAN HAS A TINA TURNER
THAT IS TRYING TO GET OUT."
ANTHERE'S SOME SILLY OLD MEN LOOKING AT THEIR WIVES
WONDING WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BRING OUT...
THE TINA TURNER IN THE WIFE.
NOW, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS
IF THE TINA TURNER IN YOUR WIFE GETS OUT...
ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT BACK IN?
RHYTHM & BLUES SINGER, ROCK GODDESS
SEX SYMBOL, MOVIE STAR
ANNIE MAE BULLOCK...
TINA TURNER.
TINA HAS INVENTED HERSELF
BY CONSTANTLY REINVENTING HERSELF.
IT'S PRECISELY THIS ABILITY TO RISE FROM THE ASHES
OF HER FORMER SELVES LIKE A PHOENIX
THAT WE ARE HONORING TINA TURNER THIS EVENING.
HER CELEBRITY BROUGHT ABOUT
THE FIRST OF MANY TRANSFORMATIONS
FOR THE FORMER ANNIE MAE BULLOCK.
Turner: ALL OF THAT STARDOM MEANT NOTHING
ONSTAGE
I WAS DEPRESSED ABOUT THE OFFSTAGE LIFE
SO NOTHING MEANT ANYTHING TO ME ONSTAGE
AND THEN THERE WAS THE PRESSURE
OF MAKING SURE I WAS SINGING AS IKE WANTED.
MY LIFE WAS HORRIBLE.
THE PICTURES WERE HORRIBLE.
THE SONGS I WAS SINGING WAS HORRIBLE.
THAT WAS MY EXISTENCE
THE STAR THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS
BUT I MADE THE BEST OF IT
BECAUSE I THINK SOME KIND OF A WAY, I DID FEEL
THAT WAS THE VEHICLE TO GET ME TO WHERE I NEEDED TO GO TO.
Cosby: AFTER YEARS OF TORTUROUS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABUSE
DURING THEIR BRUTAL MARRIAGE
TINA REALIZED IT WAS TIME TO STAND UP FOR HER LIFE.
Turner: GOD, IT FELT GOOD FIGHTING BACK.
I DIDN'T CARE IF IT HURT.
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE HURT, BUT I WAS FIGHTING BACK ANYWAY.
I S ALMOST LAUGHING.
I KNEW I WAS OUT OF THERE.
I KNEW THAT I WAS WALKING.
Cosby: TINA WALKED ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1976
WITH 36 CENTS AND A FREEDOM MONEY CAN'T BUY.
FOURTH OF JULY, INDEPENDENCE DAY.
MY HEAD WAS ABOUT THIS BIG, AND I WAS AWAY FROM IKE.
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED
THE IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY.
"I'M GONE, AND I'M NOT GOING BACK"
WAS THE ATTITUDE.
Cosby: AND TINA REGAINED CONTROL OF HER LIFE.
♪ I LEFT A GOOD JOB IN THE CITY ♪♪
♪ WORKING FOR MY MAN EVERY NIGHT AND DAY ♪
♪ I NEVER LOST ONE MINUTE OF SLEEP ♪
♪ WORRYING ABOUT THE WAY THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ♪
Cosby: AND WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF FRIENDS LIKE ANN-MARGRET
TINA TURNER WAS ROLLING AGAIN.
Turner: I KNEW THEN THAT I COULD DECIDE
WHEN THEY'RE STILL FAST, BUT...
I FELT I WAS GOING TO DO
♪ I SAY, GOT TO DO WITH IT ♪
♪ WHO NEEDS A HEART WHEN A HEART CAN BE BROKEN? ♪
BY 1984, GUIDED BY HER NEW MANAGER, ROGER DAVIES
TINA TURNER REINCARNATED AS THE QUEEN OF ROCK.
AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO...
"WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?"
AND THE SONG OF THE YEAR IS...
"WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?"
AND THE RECORD OF THE YEAR IS...
BOY, I'M SO EXCITED.
DID I MAKE YOU NERVOUS?
"WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?" TINA TURNER!
GARY WHITE, PRODUCER!
♪ ...GOT TO DO, GOT TO DO WITH IT? ♪
Turner: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT KIND OF SUCCESS.
THAT KIND OF SUCCESS WAS NOT A REALITY
THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE.
Cosby: THE PRIVATE DANCER ALBUM WENT ON TO WIN FIVE GRAMMS
SOLD MORE THAN TEN MILLION COPIES
HAD FIVE TOP-TEN SINGLES
AND HER FIRST NUMBER-ONE RECORD.
Turner: I'M EXTREMELY CRITICAL OF MYSELF.
I LOOK AT NOW OLD FOOTAGE THAT YOU HAVE HERE
T."
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, THE WAY THAT I STOOD--
ALL OF THAT WAS TO MAKE MYSELF BETTER
OR AS GOOD AS I POSSIBLY COULD BE.
♪ YOU'RE SIMPLYHE BEST... ♪
SHE REALLY WANTS TO ENTERTAIN THE AUDIENCE
REALLY WANTS TO.
SHE'S GOT A LOT OF PERSONALITY ON STAGE.
SHE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME.
THE FIRST REAL WOMAN ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR.
Cosby: TO MILLIONS OF HER ADORING FANS
SHE'S AN ICON OF ETERNAL YOUTH
A ROCK 'N' ROLL SIREN
WITH A HEART FULL OF LOVE
A COUNTRY GIRL WHOSE DREAMS CAME TRUE.
TINA, YOU ARE ADMIRED BY SO MANY PEOPLE
AND ONE OF YOUR DEAREST FRIENDS COULDN'T STAY AWAY.
SHE'S HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR AWARD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
MISS ANN-MARGRET.
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE. SURPRISE.
I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT
AND BE A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION
HONORING MY DEAR FRIEND
TINA TURNER--
A WOMAN OF COMPASSION
STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND GREAT FAITH.
TINA IS QUITE REMARKABLE AS A WOMAN, AS A MOTHER
AND AS AN ARTIST WHO CONTINUALLY SOARS.
TINA, YOU'RE SIMPLY, AS YOU SAY IN THE SONG
SIMPLY THE BEST.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MISS TINA TURNER.
I'M REALLY NOT ONE TO CRY
BUT BILL GOT ME ON THAT ONE.
I WAS JUST SO THRILLED
BECAUSE ANN WAS, STILL IS, A KIND OF A ROLE MODEL
AND AN INSPIRATION
FOR WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY LIFE ON MY VERY OWN
I WANTED TO BE LIKE ANN-MARGRET.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND ROGER
WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION IN SUPPORTING ME
AND GETTING THINGS TOGETHER, LIKE EQUIPMENT FOR RECORDING.
SHE PLAYED A VERY STRONG PART IN MY LIFE
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO EMOTIONAL FOR HER.
AND BILL...
I OPENED MANY TIMES FOR BILL IN LAS VEGAS.
ALL THE TIME
WAS HIDE MY COSTUMES.
ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME.
Cosby: I HAD THEM ON.
I WISH I HAD BILL AND HIS FAMILY AS A ROLMODEL
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
IFTS.
SOME OF US HAVE MORE THAN ONE.
WHAT I DO BEST IS SINGING AND DANCING
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT, AS I WAS CORRECTING MY LIFE
THAT I WOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR IT.
AND MY ACHIEVEMENT IS
WHAT I ACHIEVED AFTER ALL OF THAT UGLY LIFE.
HOW I ACHIEVED IT IS MY MIND WAS CLEAR.
NO DRUGS, NO ALCOHOL.
I'M THRILLED FOR THIS TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S FROM MY COUNTRY
MY PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, SUSAN. THANK YOU, ESSENCE FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
WE HAD TO FIND SOME REAL DIVAS TO PAY TRIBUTEO TINA TURNER
AND I KNOW THEY'RE DIVAS BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME SO.
PLEASE WELCOME STEPHANIE MILLS...
CHANTE MOORE...
AND KARYN WHITE...
♪ YOU MUST UNDERSTAND ♪♪
♪ THAT THE TOUCH OF YOUR HAND MAKES MY PULSE REACT ♪♪
♪ AND THAT IT'S ONLY THE THRILL OF BOY MEETING GIRL ♪♪
♪ OPPOSITES ATTRACT ♪
♪ IT'S PHYSICAL ♪
♪ OOH ♪
♪ ONLY LOGICAL ♪
♪ WE MUST TRY TO IGNORE THAT IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE ♪
♪ OH-OH-OH, WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO ♪♪
♪ GOT TO DO WITH IT? ♪
♪ WHAT'S LOVE BUT A SECOND-HAND EMOTION? ♪
TO DO,
♪ WHO NEEDS A HEART WHEN A HEART CAN BE BROKEN? ♪
♪ I'M SO IN LOVE WITH YOU ♪
♪ WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO ♪
♪ IS ALL RIGHT WITH ME ♪
♪ LET ME BE THE ONE YOU COME RUNNIN' TO ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I'LL NEVER BE UNTRUE ♪
♪ OH, TINA ♪
♪ LET'S ♪♪
♪ WE ALL MUST STAY TOGETHER ♪
♪ LG YOU WHETHER... ♪
♪ WHETHER... ♪
♪ TIMES ARE GOOD OR BAD ♪
♪ OR HAPPY OR SAD ♪
♪ WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO ♪
♪ WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE WAY HOME ♪
♪ ALL WE WANT IS LIFE BEYOND THE THUNDERDOME ♪
♪ SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR LIVES? ♪
♪ WE LEAVE ONLY A MARK ♪
♪ WILL OUR STORIES SHINE LIKE A LIGHT ♪
♪ OR END IN THE DARK? ♪
NG. ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪
■
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪■
♪ ROLLI OTHE RIVER ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪
♪ ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ♪
♪ ROLLIN♪ GET UP ♪IVER ♪
♪ TOOT, TOOT, TOOT, TOOT, TOOT, TOOT, TOOT, TOOT ♪
♪♪ ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER ♪
♪ ROLLIN', ROLLIN'... ♪
Announcer: THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARDS
IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOYOTA
AND THEIR FULL LINE OF QUALITY CARS AND TRUCKS.
AND JC PENNEY
AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON, WHERE QUALITY PRODUCTS
IVED CRITM
FOR HIS ROLE AS AN INSPIRING HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
IN STAND AND DELIVER
BUT HE GARNED EVEN MORE PRAISES AND ADMIRATION
FROM THE CIZENS OF LOS ANGELES
WHEN HE LED A BROOM BRIGADE TO HELP HEAL AND UNITE ANGELENOS
FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S CIVIL UNREST.
HE'S AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR AND A COMMUNITY ROLE MODEL.
PLEASE WELCOME MR. EDWARD JAMES OLMOS.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE
BECAUSE, TO ME, THE TEACHING PROFESSION
IS THE MOST NOBLE PROFESSION ON THE PLANET.
WITHOUT A TEACHER, I DON'T KNOW WHERE DOCTORS WOULD BE.■
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE.
I D■N'T KNOW WHERE PRIESTS WOULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANYBODY WOULD BE WITHOUT TEACHERS.
IT GIVES ME GREAT HOR TO SAY TO DR. CORLA WILSON HAWKINS
YOU ARE A TEACHER FROM THE OLD SCHOOL.
Hawkins: FOR 20 YEARS
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO TEACH IN INNER-CITY SCHOOLS.
NO MATTER WHERE I GO, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME:
THE SAME TEACHER MEETINGS, THE SAME ADMINISTRATORS
TO CITE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE LEAVE IN JUNE
WITH THE SAME NO-ANSWERS.
FINALLY, I DECIDED
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CREATE AN ANSWER.
Olmos: DR. HAWKINS' PROGRAM, "RECOVERING THE GIFTED CHILD"
--
THE PROBLEM CHILD, THE SLOW LEARNERS
THE CHRONICALLY TRUANT, AND DISINTERESTED.
AS A PARENT, YOU WILL COMMIT YOURSELF
TO COME TO THE GIFTED MEETINGS...
Olmos: TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM
STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAVE TO SIGN A CONTRACT
SPELLING OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH
TO THE CHILD'S EDUCATION.
DR. HAWKINS' STUDENTS SOON DISCOVER
THERE'S A WORLD OF INTERESTING THINGS
TO LEARN ABOUT ALMOST EVERYWHERE.
.
WE JUST NEEDED TO KNOW
WHAT THEIR GIFTS WERE.
I BELIEVE ALL THESE CHILDREN
ARE GOD'S GIFT TO US AS PARENTS, SO I SAID, "YOU'RE GIFTED."
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDE WHAT THE GIFT WAS
OR WHAT "GIFTED" MEANT.
EVERYTHING THEY DID THAT WAS POSITIVE
I EXAGGERATED IT AND MADE IT A BIG THING.
I GAVE THEM TROPHIES FOR EVERY LITTLE POSITIVE THING
AND AFTER A WHILE, THEY BEGAN TO BELIEVE.
THEY STARTED SAYING, "I'M GIFTED."
I'LL SAY, "THE GIFT'S NOT HERE YET
BUT KEEP WORKING ON IT."
AND THEY BEGAN TO MOVE IN THE MODE
THAT THEY WERE GIFTED, AND I FOUND
THEY WERE READING MORE, AND THEY WERE TRYING HARDER.
IF THE CHILDREN KNOW WE BELIEVE IN THEM
TO SAY, "YOU CAN DO IT," AND WE BELIEVE
AS EDUCATORS THAT THEY CAN DO IT
THEY WILL DO IT.
Woman: AS A PARENT
I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S A DR. HAWKINS.
I FELT VERY FORTUNATE...
FELT AND STILL FEEL VERY FORTUNATE.
I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL
BECAUSE I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER AND I SEE HOW...
HOW SHE'S GROWN
AND I KNOW I COULDN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.
I HAD VERY LOW SELF-ESTEEM IN THIS CLASS
WHEN I FIRST CAME.
MY ATTIUDE...
MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS MYSELF, TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
TO HAVE THE VALUES
THAT I TRIED TO INSTILL WITHIN MY CHILDREN
WITHIN MY HOME...
SCHOOL
AND TO BE EXPOSED TO THINGS AT THIS POINT
THAT I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO DO
BUT DEFINITELY DESIRE FOR MY CHILDREN TO DO...
I MEAN, THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, A JOB FOR A DAY
EVEN JUST THE HOPE
THAT WHAT YOU SEE
IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO LIFE.
I HAVE BEEN LABELED AS AN UNORTHODOX TEACHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A COMPLIMENT OR NOT
BECAUSE I THINK UNORTHODOX
ARE TEACHERS THAT ARE INEFFECTIVE.
I DO FACE A LOT OF CONTROVERSY, BUT IT'S OKAY.
I ALWAYS SAY WHEN I'M ASKED THAT QUESTION
"IF I WERE RUNNING FOR MISS AMERICA
"I WOULD NEED TO BE POPULAR.
TO BE A TEACHER, I JUST NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE."
MAYBE I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AS A TEACHER
BUT I DON'T NEED A LOT OF FRIENDS.
I NEED A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
MAKING A BRIGHTER TOMORROW.
All: CONGRATULATIONS, DR. HAWKINS!
WE LOVE YOU!
DR. HAWKINS...
DR. HAWKINS, YOU'VE ENCOURAGED MANY, MANY STUDENTS
OVER THE YEARS
AND ONE OF THEM IS HERE TONIGHT
TO EXPRESS HER GRATITUDE.
AND GENTLEMEN, BRIDGETTE JONES.
MAMA HAWKINS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT YOU MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO ME.
YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE
AND YOU SHOWED ME A WAY WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WASN'T ONE.
YOU BELIEVED IN ME.
YOU TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF.
YOU LOVED AND NURTURED ME AS IF I WAS YOUR VERY OWN.
YOU MOTIVATED ME
THROUGHOUT MY GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
AND YOU CONTINUE TO MOTIVATE ME
IN MY PRESENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
ERSITY.
I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME
AND THROUGH YOUR INSPIRATION
I NOT ONLY KNOW THAT I CAN ACHIEVE
■
AND I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
DR. HAWKINS...
ESSENCE IS PROUD TO JOIN THE CHOIR OF VOICES TONIGHT--
THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS, THE EDUCATORS--
WHO ARE SINGING YOUR PRAISE TONIGHT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
PLEASE WELCOME WIT■ ME DR. CORLA WILSON HAWKINS.
P■
FOR BEING THE HEAD OF MY LIFE.
I LOVE SUSAN TAYLOR AND THE ESSENCE STAFF
AND I WANT TO THANK THEM ALSO.
IT'S REALLY FUNNY
WHAT THIS ESSENCE AWARD REPRESENTS TO ME.
TO EVERY HONOREE HERE, IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
TO ME, IT MEANS A REASON FOR LIVING.
15 YEARS AGO, I WAS IN A HOSPITAL
BECAUSE I HAD DECIDED TO TERMINATE MY LIFE.
I GIP
AND GOD TOLD ME THAT IF I WOULD LIVE
HE WOULD GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO
AND IN LIVING, HE GAVE ME LIVES TO TOUCH.
EVERYTHING THAT I DO WITH THESE CHILDREN
SYMB
AND TO WANT TO LIVE.
I GIVE THEM ALL THAT I HAVE.
MANY TEACHERS WILL ASK ME
"WHY DO YOU INVEST YOUR LITTLE, MENIAL INCOME
BACK INTO YOUR CLASS?"
AND I ASK THEM, "WHY DID JESUS FEED FOLKS
WITH TWO FISH AND FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD?"
■
THAN TO SEE OUR YOUNG CHILDREN TODAY
BE THE ESSENCE RECIPIENTS OF THE FUTURE
FOR IN OUR CLASSROOMS
ARE MANY DYNAMIC YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS
AND IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE THEM THAT.
THANK YOU.
WE COULD EASILY FIND 100 WAYS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DR. HAWKINS
BUT WE THOUGHT A SONG FOR THE CHILDREN
BEST EXPRESSED THE HOPE SHE INSPIRES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME MR. JAMES INGRAM
AND THE REJOICENSEMBLE HARLEM YOUTH CHOIR.
♪ I WATCH THE WORLD, IT BREAKS MY HEART ♪
♪♪ TO CHANGE THE WORLD, WE'D HAVE TO START ♪
♪ WITH EACH OF OUR CHILDREN ♪
♪ WE'LL NERP OUR WAYS OF WAR ♪
♪ IF WE DON'T START TO LOVE CHILD ♪
♪♪ WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING MORE ♪
♪ MORE THAN WE'VE EVER GIVEN BEFORE ♪
♪ SING FOR THE CHILDREN ♪
♪ TAKE TIME FOR THE CHILDREN ♪
♪ AND LOVE CAN BE LEARNED IF WE JUST TEACH IT ♪
♪ BRING ♪
♪ TALKIN' 'BOUT A DREAM OF BELIEVIN' ♪
♪ THEN HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HAVE THEM REACH IT ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN NEED US NOW ♪
♪ IF YOU THINK THAT THEY CAN WAIT ♪
♪ ANOTHER DAY ♪
♪ YOU'RE WRONG AS YOU CAN BE ♪
♪♪ THEY HAVE JUST SO LONG TO BE CHILDREN ♪
♪ AND WE MUST BE STRONG ♪
♪ STRONG FOR THE CHILDREN ♪
♪ TAKE TIME FOR THE CHILDREN ♪
♪ D
♪ BRING ♪
♪ TO THE CHILDREN ♪
♪ TALKIN' 'BOUT A DREAM ♪
♪ WHOA, THEN HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HELP THEM ♪
♪ REACH IT ♪
♪ SING. ♪
THANK YOU.
Announcer: THE ESSENCE AWARDS WILL RETURN WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN
EDDIE MURPHY, ANITA BAKER, AND HALLE BERRY, AFTER THIS.
ENN
THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE
MIS
THE ESSENCE AWARDS WAS CREATED SIX YEARS AGO
TO GIVE NATIONAL FOCUS
TO THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.
EACH YEAR, ESSENCE SENIOR EDITORS
SELECT EIGHT HONOREES WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES
IN THEIR PARTICULAR FIELDS
AND NOT ONLY HAVE THEY DONE GOOD WORK
BUT THEY'VE ALSO GIVEN SOMETHING BACK TO SOCIETY.
WHAT THIS AWARD REALLY MEANS IS
IT'S SAYING TO THE NATION TONIGHT
THAT THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT YOU DON'T SEE.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THIS IS THE...
( audience applauds )
...THE SUBSTANCE AND SPIT OF WHO WE ARE AS WOMEN--
WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.
IS EVENING SAYS TO OUR CHILDREN
NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT YO LIFE MAY SEEM AT TIMES
YOU CAN SUCCEED WITH HARD WORK, WITH DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS
IF WADULTS...
IF WE ADULTS PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT
FOR YOU TO GROW IN.
AND THE PURPLE RIBBON SYMBOLIZES
OUR NEED TO STOP THE VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
■
OUR LIVES ARE A GREAT GIFT FROM GOD.
WHAT WE DO WITH THEM IS THE GIFT THAT WE GIVE BACK TO GOD.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
WHOO! HEY. IN 1988, SHE MADE SPORTS HISTORY
WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN
TO WIN FOUR MEDALS
IN ONE OLYMPIC GAME, DARLING, ONE, OKAY?
LYMPIAN.
LADIESND GENTLEMEN, A TRULY GREAT ATHLETE
AND A 1989 ESSENCE AWARD WINNER, MISS FLONCE GRIFFITH-JOYNER.
I FIRST MET THE WOMAN I AM ABOUT TO HONOR
IN 1986 ON UCLA's TRACK.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "SHE SURE IS GIVING IT HER ALL."
I HA
HER DREAM WAS TO MAKE IT TO THE OLYMPICS
AND SHE DID, AND IN THE PROCESS
SHE SHOWED THE WORLD THE TRUE MEANING OF COURAGE.
GAIL DEVERS' STORY IS ALL ABOUT THE TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
WHEN GAIL DEVERS STEPPED INTO THE STARTING BLOCKS IN BARCELONA
SHE ASKED GOD TO LET HER RUN THE BEST RACE OF HER LIFE.
Announcer: FAIR START IN THE WOMEN'S 100.
CUTHBERT AWAY QUICKLY, SO'S GAIL DEVERS.
GAIL DEVERS HAS THE LEAD!
CUTHBERT IS THERE... CORVALOVA...
IT'S A TIGHT FINISH.
Joyner: SHE DID 100 METERS IN 10.82 SECONDS.
HER COACH, BOB KERSEE
WAS ECSTATIC.
Kersee: SHE CAME TO ME AND WE WERE CELEBRATING.
I TOLD HER
YOU DID THE WORK. YOU WANTED IT.
YOU BELIEVED IN YOURSELF
AND NOW YOU GOT IT.
THIS BELONGS TO YOU.
IT DON'T BELONG TO ANYBODY ELSE BUT YOU.
THIS IS YOUR VICTORY.
ENJOY THAT VICTORY LAP.
Joyner: ON THE GRAND STAGE OF THE OLYMPICS
THE WORLD HAD WITNESSED THE GREATEST COMEBACK
IN MODERN TRACK HISTOR
GAIL DEVERS BEGAN TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF
DURING HER COLLEGE DAYS AT UCLA.
HER PERFORMANCES
IN COLLEGIATE, NATIONAL, AND TERNATIONAL MEETS
FIELD.
BUT THEN, GAIL'S BODY BEGAN GIVING HER SIGNALS
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Devers: IN 198 I HAD MIGRAINE HEADACHES
WHERE I LOSE MY VISION IN MY LEFT EYE
SS--
OR WEIGHT FLUCTUATION, I SHOULD SAY--
FROM 97 POUNDS TO 137 POUNDS IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.
I'D GO THROUGH PERIODS OF INSOMNIA
TO COMATOSE, HAIR LOSS...
Joyner: FOR TWO YEARS, GAIL STRUGGLED TO KEEP HER TRACK CAREER GOING
BUT FOUND SHE COULD NO LONGER COMPETE.
FINALLY, IN 1990, DOCTORS FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG.
GAIL HAD GRAVES' DISEASE--
A CONDITION OF A MALFUNCTIONING THYROID GLAND.
ONCE I FOUND OUT THAT IT WASN'T ME--
I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE THE DISEASE--
IT WAS LIKE ONCE YOU GET YOUR TREATMENT UNDERWAY
YOU'RE GOING TO BE BACK TO WHERE YOU WERE
AND HOPEFULLY BETTER.
Joyner: GAIL BEGAN TREATMENT
BUT THE RADIATION THERAPY
TRIGGERED DEBILITATING SIDE EFFECTS.
THERE WERE DAYS WHEN SHE LOOKED WORLD-CLASS.
THEN THERE WERE DAYS
WHEN SHE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SHE BELONGED ON THE TRACK.
SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO PORTIONS OF THE WORKOUT
EN,
AND ITAS LIKE, SHOCKING.
Joyner: GAIL'S FEET BEGAN TO BLISTER ANBLEED.
SHE CAME WITHIN TWO DAYS OF HAVING THEM AMPUTATED.
DOCTORS REALIZED SHE WAS REACTING
ATMENT.
YOU DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR TALENT
UNTIL YOU'RE ALMOST LOSING IT.
YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED
THAT YOU CAN WALK ACROSS THE ROOM TO THE REST ROOM
AND WHEN I WAS TWO DAYS FROM HAVING MY FEET AMPUTATED...
NOW WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
I THANK GOD JUST TO HAVE MY FEET.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
Joyner: GAIL'S THERAPY HAS CHANGED
N A MONTH,
AROUND UCLA's TRACK.
LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM HER PARENTS AND FRIENDS
KEPT HER GOING.
OF COURSE, THERE WAS ALSO GAIL'S INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
THAT KEPT THE DREAM OF BARCELONA ALIVE.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THIS GIRL WENT THROUGH
AND THE WORK THAT SHE PUT IN THERE TO DO IT.
IT WAS JUST SO TOUCHING
AND I WAS JUST SO HAPPY FOR HER.
Devers: THE LAST THREE YEARS WAS LIKE A MIRACLE.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE DREAMS COME TRUE
LOOK AT ME.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO PRESENT A 1993 ESSENCE AWARD
TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SHOWN THE WORLD
COURAGE
AND THE POWER OF FAITH.
MISS GAIL DEVERS.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST GIVE THANKS TO GOD.
WITHOUT HIM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
THE LAST FEW YEARS OF MY LIFE
S
AND WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL FOR MY COUNTRY
MEANT THE WORLD TO ME.
THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU FEEL THE WALLS ARE CLOSININ
AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT, AND IT'S DURING THOSE TIMES
THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE BELIEF IN YOURSELF
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONQUER ANY OBSTACLE BEFORE U.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING DETER YOU
FROM ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ESSENCE FAMILY
FOR HELPING TO MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE.
THIS IS GOING NEXT TO MY GOLD MEDAL.
THANK YOU.
GAIL, YOUR ASTONISHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
HAVE INSPIRED OUR CHOREOGRAPHER, MICHAEL PETERS
TO CREATE THE DANCE TRIBUTE, "THE OLYMPIAN SPIRIT"
IN YOUR HONOR.
PLEASE WELCOME THE ESSENCE DANCERS.
( mid-tempo funk playing )
Announcer: PATTI LaBELLE PERFORMS
ARETHA FRANKLIN'S HONORED, D SO MUCH MORE
WHEN THE ESSENCE AWARDS RETURNS.
IN DETROIT'S NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
THE SONG OF THE PEOPLE TOOK ON A NEW FORM
BUT IT NEEDED SOMEONE TO GIVE IT VOICE--
SOMEONE IT COULD TAKE POSSESSION OF.
NOW, NATURALLY, IT CHOSE THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER.
♪ PRECIOUS ♪
♪ LORD ♪
ATHER
THE REVEREND C.L. FRANKLIN.
SHE DID SO WITH HER FATHER'S BLESSIN.
♪ AIN'T NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BABY, I LOVE YOU ♪
Glover: ARETHA MADE HER FIRST RECORDS IN THE EARLY '60s
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1967
THAT SHE FOUND A STYLE THAT SATISFIED HER SOUL
AND THE SOUL OF A MILLION NEW CONVERTS
WHO TOOK IT AS THE GOSPEL TRUTH.
♪ YOU'RE NO GOOD ♪
♪ HEARTBREAKER ♪
♪ YOU'RE A LIAR, AND YOU'RE A CHEAT ♪
♪ AND I DON'T KNOW WHY ♪
♪ I LET YOU DO THESE THINGS TO ME ♪
Glover: ARETHA TOOK HER GOSPEL SOUND INTO THE WORLD OF SECULAR MUSIC
AND CAME UP WITH HER FIRST MILLION-SELLER.
"I NEVER LOVED A MAN"-- THAT WAS MY FIRST MILLION-SELLING RECORD.
"I NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVED YOU)."
Glover: THE SAME WEEK "NEVER LOVED A MAN" BROKE
ARETHA RECORDED "RESPECT," "BABY, BABY, BABY"■
"SOUL SERENADE," AND "DR. FEELGOOD."
IT WAS THE YEAR OF A NATURAL SOUL WOMAN.
♪ I DIDN'T KNOW JUST WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME... ♪
Ray Charles: I WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO...
TO PUT HER AMONG THE CREATORS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY CREATE THAT... THE SOUND
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WISH THEY COULD DO.
♪ ... BECAUSE YOU MAKE ME FEEL ♪
♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL ♪
♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL ♪
♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL ♪
♪♪ LIKE A NATURAL WOMAN ♪
♪ WOMAN. ♪♪
I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE
IN PRESENTING TO YOU
THE CASHBOX ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR 1967.
YOU FINISHED FIRST IN SINGLES, FIRST ON ALBUMS
AND FIRST IN RHYTHM & BLUES.
Glover: WHEN ARETHA DEMANDED
HER "PROPERS" IN 1967, SHE SANG NOT ONLY FOR HERSELF
BUT FOR ALL AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
"RESPECT" BECAME AN ANTHEM FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
HER APPEAL IS UNIVERSAL.
HER SOUND IS CONTEMPORARY.
HER SOUL, INTACT.
♪ WE GOING RIDIN' ON THE FREEWAY OF LOVE ♪♪
♪ IN MY PINK CADILLAC... ♪
WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES TO WORK WITH ARETHA
YOU
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT EVEN A HESITATION.
♪ JUMPIN' JACK FLASH ♪
♪ IT'S A GAS. ♪
SHE'S THE BEST.
MPL.
AH... MUCH AS I LOVE A LOT OF OTHER FEMALE ARTISTS
THERE'S NO ONE TOUCHES HER, REALLY.
♪ THE RIVER WAS DEEP ♪
♪ I DIDN'T FALTER... ♪
ARETHA SINGS THE BLUES.
SHE SINGS JAZZ.
SHE SINGS POP.
SHE OBVIOUSLY SINGS GOSPEL.
I THINK, IF GIVEN HALF A CHANCE, SHE PROBABLY COULD SING OPERA.
Glover: ARETHA HAS SUNG FOR KINGS
AND PRESIDENTS AND COMMON FOLK.
AND THE MAJESTY OF HER VOICE HAS UPLIFTED ALL OF US.
♪ OH YEAH ♪
FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
ARETHA FRANKLIN HAS REIGNED SUPREME
AS THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF SOUL.
SHE'S HAD MORE MILLION-SELLING SINGLES
AND HAS WON MORE GRAMMYS THAN ANY OTHER WOMAN
ORY.
FOR THIS, AND FOR SIMPLY TELLING IT LIKE IT IS
WE'RE PROUD TO HONOR YOU WITH THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ESSENCE FAMILY:
MRS. SUSAN TAYLOR, AND, UH, THE ESSENCE STAFF.
IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND PLEASURE
THAT I ACCEPT THIS VERY DISTINGUISHED AWARD.
AND HISTORICALLY
ESSENCE HAS MADE A MAJOR CORIBUTION
TO OUR CULTURE, AND TO OUR COMMUNITY
TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO OUR LIVES.
AND I WILL TREASURE THIS
AND PUT IT AMONG
THANK YOU.
WHO BETTER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A SINGER'S SINGER
THAN ANOTHER PHENOMENAL SINGER
ESPECIALLY ONE I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR.
THE ORIGINAL "MISS THING," MISS PATTI LaBELLE.
♪ WHOA-OH-OH-OH ♪
♪ OH-OH-OH ♪
♪ YEAH-AH-AH ♪
OU ♪
♪ AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ FOR ME TO LOVE YOU ♪
♪ IF YOU WON'T ♪
♪ LET ME ♪
♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ NO WAY ♪♪
♪ FOR ME TO GIVE YOU ♪
♪ ALL YOU NEED ♪
♪ WHEN YOU WON'T LET ME GIVE IT, GIVE IT, GIVE IT ♪
♪ GIVE IT, GIVE IT, GIVE IT GIVE IT TO ME ♪
♪ WHOO ♪
♪♪ OH, BUT HOW CAN I ♪
♪ HOW CAN I ♪♪
♪♪ HOW CAN I ♪
♪ GIVE YOU EVERYTHI YOU NEED ♪♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE TYING BOTH OF MY HANDS? ♪♪
♪ OH ♪
♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ I SAID IT AIN'T, AIN'T NO WAY, NO WAY ♪
♪ AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ SAID IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ SURE... SURE AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ AIN'T NO WAY ♪'
♪♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ FO
♪ IF YOU WON'T, IF YOU WON'T LET ME ♪
♪ WHOA-OH-OH ♪
... OH! ♪
♪ HARDCORE AND FOOLISH MAN ♪
♪ WHO PAID TOO MUCH FOR WHAT HE GOT ♪
♪ AND IF YOU NEED ME TO LOVE YOU ♪
♪ SAY... SAY... JUST SAY YOU DO ♪
♪ BECAUSE I... I... I... ♪
♪ I NEED... I NEED... I NEED YOU ♪
■■
♪ I SAID IT AIN'T NO WAY, IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY, IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY, DARLIN' ♪
♪ NO ♪
♪ SAID IT AIN'T, AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ OH ♪
♪ SURE... SURE AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ NO WAY ♪
♪ WHOA! ♪
♪ FOR ME TO LOVE YOU ♪
♪ IF YOU WON'T LET ME ♪
♪ NO WAY ♪
NO ♪
♪ IT AIN'T ♪
♪♪ IT AIN'T ♪
♪ IT AIN'T ♪
♪ IT
♪♪ IT AIN'T NO WAY ♪
♪ NO! ♪
♪ NO, NO, NO, NO WAY! ♪
Announcer: EDDIE MURPHY, MARK CURRY, SHA
LENA HORNE, HALLE BERRY, AND SO MANY MORE STARS
OUR NEXT GUEST IS NOT JUST AN EMMY WINNER.
OUR NEXT GUEST IS NOT JUST AN EMMY WINNER.
SHE'S ALSO A COMMITTED COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
SHE HAS SPOKEN OUT ON THE BEHALF OF ABUSED CHILDREN
AND CHAMPIONED SUCH ISSUES AS THE ENVIRONMENT
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
SHE'S A HANDS-ON WOMAN OF ACTION
WHO DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT A NEED FOR CHANGE.
MISS THING GOES OUT THERE AND GETS IT DONE.
SHE GETS THE JOB D SHE JUST DOES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME MISS LINDSAY WAGNER.
ALONG LOU DILLON AVENUE
IN THE WATTS COMMUNITY OF LOS ANGELES
THERE SITS A ROW OF HOUSES
THAT INCLUDES THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PARENTS OF WATTS--
AN OASIS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.
THE FOUNDER OF PARENTS OF WATTS IS A DISPENSERF HOPE
■
WHEN YOU GET HILLARY CLINTON, TELL HILLARY THAT "SWEET ALICE"
OUT IN WATTS, LIFORNIA HAD YOU TO CALL HER
AND TELL HER YOU NEED SOME HELP.
Wagner: MRS. HARRIS HAS LIVED IN WATTS FOR MORE THAN 30EARS.
WHEREVER "SWEET ALICE" HAS SEEN A NEED
SHE HAS WORKED TO FILL IT.
HER PROGRAMS ARE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
TO NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS.
PARENTS OF WATTS PROVIDES SHELTER FOR E HOMELESS
FOOD AND CLOTHING FOR THE NEEDY
TUTORIAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
AND JOB TRAINING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
NO MATTER WHAT THE NEED
"SWEET ALICE" IS WILLING TO HELP.
Harris: WHAT I'M DOING, ACTUALLY
IS WHAT SOMEBODY DID FOR ME ONE DAY.
I DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH THE PROGRAM.
I KNEW THIS WAS NEEDED BECAUSE IT WAS NEEDED FOR ME.
I WAS A TEENAGE MOTHER AT 13.
I WAS HOMELESS MYSELF WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15 OR 16.
I RELATE 'CAUSE I WORE THESE SHOES.
I UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS
WHEN YOU WANT TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND
AND EVERYBODY SAID
"YOU'RE BAD. DON'T GIVE THEM A CHANCE.
THEY'LL NEVER CHANGE."
TOWN.
PEOPLE DO CHANGE.
LOVE WILL MOVE A MOUNTAIN.
Wagner: MRS. HARRIS HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT POVERTY AND NEGLECT
N DO TO A COMMUNITY
AND ITS RESIDENTS' MORALE.
Harris: THEY NEED A JOB.
A MAN AIN'T A MAN
IF HE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY.
SO WHAT'S A SHAME THAT SOCIETY IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME UP
AND NOT GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE A MAN OR A WOMAN
WHERE THEY CAN BE INDEPENDENT AND NOT DEPENDENT.
Woman: SHE MAKES YOU THINK, AND HELPS YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEMS.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU
TO, ABOUT IT."
Wagner: MRS. HARRIS KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES
TO TURN A LIFE AROUND.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND ALLEN
HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RAISED NINE CHILDREN.
EVEN THOUGH SHE WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK
SHE STILL MANAGED
TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
Woman: SHE'S THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT ALWAYS HAS HER ARMS OUT.
■
YOU CAN BE WALKING DOWN THE STREET
AND SHE'LL SEE THAT YOU NEED... AND OPEN HER ARMS TO YOU.
Wagner: MRS. HARRIS HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION
FOR HER WORK
BUT SHE'S REMAINED FOCUSED.
THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
ARE STILL HER FIRST PRIORITY.
Harris: IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO COME HERE.
YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT
TO BE
THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
PLEASE WELCOME MRS. "SWEET ALICE" HARRIS.
YOU JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD I FEEL
TO SEE THAT IT IS STILL
SOME GOOD-LOOKING, NICE-LOOKING, RESPECTABLE YOUNG MEN
THAT'S WILLING TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR FOR ME.
IT'S THOSE LITTLE, SMALL THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE
THAT KEEPS THEM LIVING.
FOR ME TO COME HERE AND RIDE IN A LIMOUSINE...
I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER DO THAT COMING FROM WATTS
AND FOR ME TO SIT AT THE TABLE WITH THE HEAD PEOPLE--
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WOULD LET ME DO THAT
BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE PEOPLE THAT I SERVE AND WAIT ON
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DO FOR ME
AND I KNOW THAT.
WHEN PEOPLE NEED YOU TO HELP THEM
THEY'RE JUST LIKE BABIES.
THEIR LIFE IS IN YOUR HAND
AND IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER THEY LIVE OR DIE
CE.
I'LL GO BACK, AND MY FUEL IS REKINDLED
AND I DON'T FEEL AS BAD AS I WAS FEELING.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND TELL WATTS
"WAKE UP, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO CARE ABOUT US.
"WE'RE GOING TO START A NEW DAY.
SO DON'T WORRY"
AND THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT GUEST IS A YOUNG SINGER WHOSE INSPIRING SONGS
CARRY A MESSAGE OF HEALING AND HOPE
AND TONIGHT, SHE PERFORMS FOR YOU.
PLEASE WELCOME SHANICE.
( slow tempo music playing )
♪ ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ♪
♪ SHINE A LIGHT FROM YOUR HIGHEST DREAMS ♪
♪ ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ♪
♪ KEEP YOUR INNER CHILD ALIVE ♪
♪ ALIVE ♪
♪ WHOO, KEEP YOUR CHILD ALIVE ♪
♪ KEEP YOUR INN CHILD ALIVE ♪
♪ KEEP YOUR INNER CHILD ALIVE ♪
♪ KEEP IT ALIVE, ALIVE, ALIVE. ♪
YOU KEEP IT ALIVE, BABY.
g )
♪ LOOKIN' IN MY HEART ♪
♪ I'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY ♪
♪ I WANT TO DO MY PART ♪
♪ I WANT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE ♪
♪ THERE'S FIGHTING IN THE STREETS ♪
♪ WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? ♪
♪ CAN WE STOP THE HATE? ♪
♪ CAN WE WORK IT OUT? ♪
♪ I SAY YOU AND I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ♪
LING,
♪ I SAY YOU AND I CAN MAKE■■ CHANGE ♪
♪ LOVE WILL SHOW US HOW ♪
♪
♪ PEACE IN THE WORLD IS WHAT WE CARE FOR ♪
♪ WHOO-WHOO ♪
♪ HAND IN HAND, WE'LL MAKE A CHANGE ♪
♪ YEAH, YEAH ♪
♪ YEAH ♪
♪ HEART TO HEART, WE'LL FIND A WAY. ♪
■uACE.
Announcer: THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARDS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
THE GREAT TASTE OF DIET PEPSI.
YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE, BABY, UH-HUH.
AND COLOR STYLE.
COLOR AND STYLE ONLY REVLON COULD CREATE.
FOR BEAUTIFUL FACES OF COLOR.
IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC AND EXCITING EVENING
BUT HOLD ON TO YOUR WI, BABY
'CAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.
JOINING US NOW IS AN ACTRESS
WHOSE TALENT AND BEAUTY HAVE COMBINED TO MAKE HER
ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER NEW FACES.
AND SHE RECENTLY STARRED
IN THE HIT TELEVISION MINI-SERIES QUEEN.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SHE'S SO PRETTY--
MISS HALLE-- PRETTY, PRETTY-- BERRY, MISS HALLE.
■
LENA HORNE IS SYNONYMOUS
WITH SUCH WORDS AS BEAUTY, GLAMOUR, SUCCESS, AND STARDOM
BUT THIS LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER IS ALSO A SURVIVOR
AND A PATHFINDER.
HER LIFE SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE
OF KNOWING AND DEFINING OURSELVES.
Horne: HOME IS A PLACE WE ALL MUST FIND, CHILD.
IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE YOU EAT OR SLEEP.
HOME IS KNOWING--
KNOWING YOUR MIND, KNOWING YOUR HEART
KNOWING YOUR COURAGE.
IF WE KN OURSELVES, WE'RE ALWAYS HOME.
Berry: LENA HORNE BEGAN HER CAREER
WORKING AS A SHOW GIRL AT THE COTTON CLUB
BEFORE STEING OUT FRONT AS A SOLOIST
WITH NOBLE SISSLE'S ORCHESTRA.
HER BEAUTY AND DISTINCTIVE STYLE SET HER APART
AND IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE SHE WAS A FEATURED CABARET PERFORMER.
♪ I WAS BORN ON A FRIDAY ♪
♪ MARRIED ON A FRIDAY TOO... ♪
Berry: LENA'S SUCCESS AS AN ENTERTAINER
WAS MARRED BY RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
OFTEN BEING DENIED LODGING AT HOTELS.
SHE WENT TO HOLLYWOOD AND BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN
TO SIGN WITH A MAJOR STUDIO
BUT HER LIGHT COMPLEXION POSED A PROBLEM FOR MOVIE EXECUTIVES.
THEY SAID TO MAX FACTOR, "LOOK AT THIS WOMAN.
"LOOK AT HER.
KE HER LOOK MORE COLORED."
THAT'S A LITTLE SOMETHING
WE USED TO CALL EACH OTHER
HE SAID, "OKAY."
YOU KN, THEY'LL DO ANYTHING.
HE SAID, "I'LL TRY," AND HE WENT AWAY.
COME BACK ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER WITH A MAKEUP CREATED FOR ME.
NAMED IT "LIGHT EGYPTIAN."
R.
Berry: LENA REFUSED TO BE STEREOTYPED AND CONSIDERED GIVING IT ALL UP
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE CHOSEN.
I HAD BLACK PEOPLE TELL ME, "THERE'S A MILLION LIKE YOU"--
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE--
"WITH MORE TALENT, BETTER LOOKS, AND EVERYTHING.
YOU GOT PICKED."
BASIE TOLD ME THAT WHEN I SAID
"I'LL NEVER GO BACK TO HOLLYWOOD."
HE SAYS, "YOU'VE GOT TO GO, BECAE THEY CHOSE YOU
"AND THEY DON'T GIVE US THAT CHANCE ENOUGH.
YOU'RE STUCK."
Berry: LENA BECAME A HOLLYWOOD STAR
AND A SYMBOL OF BLACK ASPIRATIONS
BUT BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO PLAY A MAID
SHE RARELY GOT THE CHANCE TO ACT.
HER ROLES WERE LIMITED TO MUSICAL NUMBERS
THAT COULD BE EDITED OUT
SO WHITE MOVIEGOERS IN THE SOUTH
WOULDN'T BE OFFENDED.
♪ THERE'S HONEY IN THE HONEYCOMB ♪
♪ THERE'S SUGAR IN THE CANE... ♪
Berry: LENA DID GET A CHANCE TO ACT, HOWEVER
IN THE ALL-BLACK PRODUCTIONS
OF CABIN IN THE SKY AND STORMY WEATHER.
♪ DON'T KNOW WHY ♪
♪ THERE'S NO SUN UP IN THE SKY ♪
♪ STORMY WEATHER... ♪
Berry: LENA SPENT A GOOD PORTION OF HER LIFE TRYING TO FIT IN
AND YET REMAIN TRUE TO HERSELF
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO EXPRESS WHAT SHE'D ALWAYS LONGED FOR.
Man: MISS LENA HORNE.
( cheering )
FREEDOM!
Berry: FREEDOM TO JUST BE HERSELF.
FREEDOM TO JUST BE LENA...
AT LEAST, IN THIS LIFETIME.
I TELL YOU, WHEN I GET BACK HERE IN MY NEXT 142nd REINCARNATION
I'M GOING TO BE TINA TURNER FOR TEN MINUTES IF IT KILLS ME.
OOH, SHE'S HOT!
OH, SHE'S HOT!
RTISTRY
AND FOR OPENING THE DOOR TO HOLLYWOOD
FOR AFRICAN-ERICAN ACTRESSES
AND FOR THE PASSION AND PRIDE YOU HAVE DISPLAYED
IN YOUR CAREER AND IN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TONIGHT
TO HONOR YOU WITH THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU,
AND ALL THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO KEEP ESSENCE GOING
AND KEEP ME GOING
AND KEEP TINA GOING
AND KEEP ARETHA GOING
AND KEEP HALLE BERRY GNG.
'CAUSE WE NEED A PUBLICATION TO SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT US
AND I WANT TO SAY
THAT I THINK TONIGHT MY GRANDMOTHER, CORA CALHOUN--
WHO WAS AN ARDENT SUFFRAGIST IN THE EARLY 1900s
■
WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OLD--
I'M SORRY I LOST HER WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD
BUT SHE GROUNDED ME, SHE GROUNDED ME VERY WL--
AND I KNOW SHE'S SMILING TONIGHT.
ANYWAY
I COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT MY GRANDMOTHER
AND MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
AND ALL THE GRANDMOTHERS THATAME BEFO ME
AND I LEARNED A BIT FROM ALL OF EM
THAT'S WHY I LOVE OUR HISTORY SO MUCH
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR HISTORY
SOMETIME WHEN YOU'RE IN DESPAIR, YOU FEEL VERY BAD.
I LOVE YOU ALL, AND I THANK YOU
FOR HANGING THERE WITH ME THIS LONG.
PLEASE WELCOME THE INCREDIBLE SINGER AND COMPOSER
MS. ANITA BAKER.
THANK YOU.
LENA, MY DARLING
THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME.
I'VE ALWAYS, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER
LOVED AND ADMIRED YOU.
EVERYTHING Y DO
CARRIES YOUR OWN INDELIBLE MARK
AND IT'S ALWAYS A MARK OF EXCELLENCE
AND I LOVE YOU FOR IT.
THIS IS MY WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU.
♪ DON'T KNOW WHY ♪
♪ THERE NO SUN UP IN THE SKY ♪
♪ SINCE MY MAN AND I ♪
♪ KEEPS RAININ' ALL THE TIME ♪
♪ OOH, LIFE IS BAD ♪
♪♪ PAIN AND MISERY EVERYWHERE ♪
♪ STORMY WEATHER ♪
♪
♪ I'M WEARY ALL THE TIME ♪
♪♪ OH, SINCE HE WENT AWAY ♪
♪ THE BLUES WALKED IN AND MET ME ♪
♪ IF HE COMES TO STAY ♪
♪ A ROCKING CHAIR WILL GET ME ♪
♪ I HOPE AND I PRAY ♪
♪ THE LORD ABOVE WILL LET ME ♪
♪ WALK IN THE SUNSHINE AGAIN ♪
♪ AGAIN ♪
♪ OH, I CAN'T GO ON ♪
♪ EVERYTHING I HAD IS GONE ♪
♪ STORMY WEATHER ♪
♪ CAN'T SEEM TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER ♪
♪ KEEPS RAININ' ALL THE TIME ♪
♪♪ OOH, IT'S RAINING ♪
♪ A THE TIME. ♪
Announcer: THE ESSENCE AWARDS WELCOMES EDDIE MURPHY
MARK CURRY, AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS
WHEN WE RETURN.
SHE WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAD COME--
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ON THE WINDS OF CHANGE--
SENATOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN.
( chanting: ) CAROL! CAROL! CAROL!
THE DAYS OF DIVIDE AND CONQUER HAVE TO BE OVER.
CAROL! CAROL! CAROL! CAROL! CAROL! CAROL!
IT IS A VICTORY FOR ALL WHO THOUGHT
THEIR FRANCHISE HAD BEEN STOLEN BY MONEY, POWER, AND INFLUENCE.
CAROL! CAROL! CAROL!
A.
( crowd cheering )
ILLINOIS IS SENDING A WOMAN TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
LaBelle: SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE.
I'VE SAID ALL ALONG WE WOULD WIN THIS ELECTION.
NOBODY BELIEVED ME.
SO WE WERE THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT COULD.
LaBelle: BRAUN'S CONFIDENCE WAS FUELED BY A CAREER OF FIRSTS--
FIRST WOMAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE
AS ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER
IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE FIRST TO HOLD ELECTIVE OFFICE IN COOK COUNTY.
WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY REAPPORTIONED COMMUNITIES
TO THE DETRIMENT OF HER BLACK AND HISPANIC CONSTITUENCIES
SHE SUED HER OWN PARTY.
I HAD NOT STARTED OFF THINKING I WAS GOING TO DO THAT.
THEN A COMMUNITY PERSON SAID, "IT'S JUST TERRIBLE
"WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO US WITH THESE MAPS.
"SOMEBODY OUGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT.
YOU'RE A LAWYER, AIN'T YOU?"
I WENT, "BUT I CAN'T JUST FILE A LAWSUIT."
I WOUND UP FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST MY OWN PARTY, AND I WON.
THE DISTRICT COURT SAID THEY HAD TO REDRAW THE BOUNDARY LINES.
LaBelle: THIS WAS ONE OF MANY VICTORIES
FOR A WOMAN AFRAID TO TAKE ON THE SYSTEM.
ABOUT MAKING A DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY
WORK FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE.
I'VE SEEN HER CRY ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE.
WE'VE HELD HANDS AND WALKED OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DOWN THE STREET, INTO THE CLOSEST CHURCH
AND GOT ON OUR KNEES AND PRAYED FOR GUIDANCE--
WHAT TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
LaBelle: FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO TO CAPITOL HILL
CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN HAS CONSISTENTLY CROSSED THE LINES
DRAWN TO CONTAIN AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WOMEN.
SHE IS A TRAILBLAZER, AND TRULY, A WOMAN OF VISION.
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
S
MY PARENTS EMBRACED
WE CAN LIGHT A PATH INTO
THAT GIVES HOPE TO THOSE WHO DESPAIR
S
HERE TO PRESENT THE AWARD IS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN
OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
AND OUR NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
MR. RON BROWN.
SENATOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN...
THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL, DOESN'T IT?
Woman: YES, IT DOES.
SENATOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN, FOR YOUR COURAGE AND COMPASSION
FOR THE INSPIRATION YOUR EXAMPLE HAS PROVIDED US
AND FOR SHOWING US
THAT A WOMAN'S PLACE IS INDEED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
OF THE UNITED STATES
WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND PLEASURE IN SALUTING YOU
WITH THIS 1993 ESSENCE AWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR BRAUN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS REALLY AN HONOR.
A NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN ONCE SAID TO ME
"TRUTH IS A LONELY TRAIL
TRAVELED BY COURAGE AND NAIVETE."
AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT I BELIEVE SINCERELY
THAT THE LORD BROUGHT ME TO THIS PLACE--
BROUGHT ME TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE--
FOR A PURPOSE, FOR A REASON, AND SO IT'S MY DUTY TO DO
THE JOB THAT I WAS SENT TO DO IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
I AM VERY MUCH...
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ESSENCE FAMILY
FOR THIS WONDERFUL AWARD.
I'M PARTICULARLY HONORED TO BE IN SUCH ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY
AND I CAN TELL YOU, I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN DO
TO BE A GREAT UNITED STATES SENATOR
AND TO MAKE ALL OF YOU VERY PROUD OF ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SENATOR BRAUN, MOST OF US CAN ONLY IMAGINE
THE STRESS THAT GOES WITH POLITICS IN WASHINGTON.
SO TO HELP YOU DE-STRESS, SIT BACK, RELAX
AND HAVE A LAUGH ON US.
PLEASE WELCO
THANK YOU.
HOW YOU DOING?
BEFORE WE START
LET'S SALUTE ALL THE BLACK WOMEN IN THE WORLD.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YES. YES.
ESPECIALLY BLACK MOTHERS.
YES.
BLACK MOTHERS HAVE
THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
THEY GOT TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN.
AND DO A DAMN GOOD JOB AT IT.
AND DON'T PLAY, 'CAUSE BLACK WOMEN HAVE THAT LOOK.
YOU DON'T SEE OUR KIDS IN THE SUPERMARKET MESSING AROUND.
OH, NO. YOU DON'T SEE THAT.
BLACK WOMEN GOT THAT LOOK.
"EXCUSE ME. HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?"
MY MOTHER USED TO GIVE ME A PRE-SPEECH
BEFORE I EVEN GOT OUT THE CAR WHEN WE USED TO GO SHOPPING.
"DON'T ASK FOR NOTHING.
"DON'T LOOK AT NOTHING.
DO SOMETHING, I'LLEAT YOUR BUTT."
MY MOTHER USED TO BUY ME
CHEAP TENNIS SHOES AT THE SUPERMARKET--
THEM CHEAP TENNIS SHOES RIGHT IN THE MEAT DEPARTMENT
WITH THAT BIG 3.99 SIGN ON THEM.
THEY USED TO LOOK LIKE NIKES, BUT IT SAID "MIKE" ON THE SIDE.
THE KIND... YOU'D PLAY BALL, AND THEY'D JUST RIP.
TIME OUT. TIME OUT, MAN. TIME OUT.
P
BACK THERE."
WHAT WAS THE GOOD CEREAL?
MOTHERS USED TO NEVER BUY YOU THE GOOD CEREAL.
WHAT WAS THE GOOD CEREAL?
WHO SAID CORNFLAKES?
WHAT EIGHT-YEAR-OLD KID
WANTS CORNFLAKES?
"WE'LL TAKE CORNFLAKES AND SKIM MILK TO GO WITH THAT."
CAP'N CRUNCH WAS THE CEREAL.
REMEMBER THAT? BUT MOMS WOULD NEVER BUY THAT.
G
THAT BIG 14-POUND BAG FOR A DOLLAR.
REMEMBER THOSE LITTLE KERNELS?
THEY TASTE LIKE STYROFOAM CUPS.
YOU EAT A BOWL OF THAT, IT WILL FILL YOU UP.
THEY EXPAND IN YOUR STOMACH.
"WHAT WAS THAT, MEATLOAF?
WHOA, THAT WAS GOOD."
WHAT'S THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IN A SUPERMARKET?
IN THE BACK OF THE HEEL WITH THAT CART.
OH, YES. MOTHERS, I KNOW YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT.
I DON'T CARE HOW NICE YOUR MOTHER IS
HOW RELIGIOUS.
IT DON'T MAKE NO DIFFERENCE.
SHE GOING TO CUSS YOU OUT.
TRUE FEELINGS GONNA COME OUT AT THAT TIME.
YOU GET THAT SUPERMARKET CART, AND YOU LIKE A LITTLE KID.
YOU HIT HER IN THE BACK OF THE HEEL WITH THAT CART...
OH, GOD... OW!
"I TOLD YOU, YOU LITTLE STUPID...
"6'5" IN THE EIGHTH GRADE
"YOU CAN'T PLAY NO BASKETB■■L, YOU STUPID...
"STILL PEEING IN THE BED, GOD...
I AIN'T YOUR REAL MAMA."
THANK YOU. I'M MARK CURRY.
GOD BLESS YOU PEOPLE.
Announcer: ROBERT KENNEDY, JR.
EDDIE MURPHY, AND KATHLEEN BATTLE
TRIBUTE ROSA PARKS, NEXT.
WELL, FOR ONE
HE WAS JUST AS NERVOUS AS I WAS BACKSTAGE.
WELL, HE'S A NEWLYWED.
YEAH. COME ON, GIVE IT...
ICE
AND HIS NAME'S EDDIE MURPHY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK Y'ALL HAD THAT MUCH ENERGY LEFT.
YOU GOT TO WORK OUT TO COME TO THIS SHOW, BOY.
Y.
AND I KNOW Y'ALL...
AND SWEET ALICE, YOU ARE THE CUTEST WOMAN I'VE EVER...
YOU ARE THE CUTEST WOMAN.
SHE'
SHE COULD BE GEORGE FOREMAN'S AUNT.
COULD YOU PICTURE
?
TE... T...
ALL THESE WOMEN WE'VE BEEN HONORING...
I'VE BEEN SITTING OUT HERE...
YOU COME HERE AND YOU LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE TOO.
I'VE BEEN LEARNING STUFF, AND...
LET'S DO LIKE SUSAN TAYLOR DID.
A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ESSENCE MAGAZINE.
HOW ABOUT A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL BLACK WOMEN?
AND A BIG ROUND
OF APPLAUSE FOR LITTLE BLACK GIRLS, TOO, YES!
AND LITTLE BLACK FEMALE EMBRYOS!
EVERYONE!
THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT, INCIDENTALLY
'CAUSE I'M HERE TO GIVE THE AWARD TO ROSA PARKS.
R
THE WHOLE WORLD TURNED AROUND.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BEGAN EFFECTIVELY IN AMERICA
THE MOMENT ROSA PARKS REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT ON THE BUS.
HER STORY IS A REMINDER OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S POWER
TO ACT, TO ALTER LIVES, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD.
Announcer: IN 1955, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
WAS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE SOUTH.
THE SYMBOLS OF WHITE SUPREMACY WERE EVERYWHERE
IBLE
S.
FOR BLACK PEOPLE, RIDING THE BUS
WAS AN ESPECIALLY HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE.
FORCED TO ENTER FROM
AND RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE BUS
THEY WERE ALSO EXPECTED TO GIVE UP THEIR SEATS
TO WHITE PASSENGERS UPON DEMAND.
ON DECEMBER 1, 1955, ROSA PARKS AND THREE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE
WERE ORDERED TO GIVE UP THEIR SEATS.
ROSA ALONE REFUSED.
Parks: I DIDN'T GET ON
WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING ARRESTED.
I FELT THAT WHEN HE USED THE WORDS
"Y'ALL MAKE IT LIGHT ON YOURSELVES
AND LET ME HAVE THOSE SEATS"
THAT I COULD NOT SEE
AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A PASSENGER
OR US AS A PEOPLE
TO CONTINUE TO GIVE IN TO THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT.
Announcer: MRS. PARKS WAS ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THE CITY'S SEGREGATION LAWS.
Man: WHEN SHE WAS THROWN IN JAIL, EVERYBODY SAID
"IF ROSA PARKS CAN'T BE TREATED RIGHT ON THE BUS
NOBODY CAN BE TREATED RIGHT ON THE BUS."
AND SHE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO HAD THE TOTAL RESPECT OF THE COMMUNITY
AND THEY RALLIED AROUND HER AND STARTED A MOVEMENT.
WE, THE *** CITIZENS
HAVE DECIDED NOT TO RIDE THE BUSES IN MONTGOMERY
UNTIL WE RECEIVE SOME JUSTICE AND UNTIL WE GET A HEARING
EVEN IF IT TAKES A YEAR.
Announcer: ROSA PARKS' ARREST TOUCHED A SENSITIVE NERVE
IN MONTGOMERY'S RESIDENTS.
IT UNITED THE COMMUNITY AND FOCUSED ITS FRUSTRATION.
BLACK PEOPLE REFUSED
TO BOARD CITY BUSES, AND BECAME THE VANGUARD
OF AMERICA'S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WHITE RACISTS IN MONTGOMERY DIDN'T SIT IDLE.
ROSA PARKS AND OTHER BOYCOTT LEADERS
WERE INSULTED, HARASSED
AND EXPOSED TO CONSTANT DANGER.
ON DECEMBER 20, 1956
THE SUPREME COURT ORDER
DECLARING SEGREGATION ON BUSES UNCONSTITUTIONAL
REACHED MONTGOMERY.
THE YEAR-OLD PROTEST AGAINST CITY BUSES
IS OFFICIALLY CALLED OFF
AND THE *** CITIZENS OF MONTGOMERY
ARE URGED TO RETURN TO THE BUSES TOMORROW MORNING
ASIS.
Announcer: THE DAYS OF SUBMISSION AND ACCOMMODATION IN THE SOUTH
WERE GONE.
BLACK AMERICANS WERE NOW BOLDLY PROCLAIMING A NEW DAY.
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME... ♪
ROSA PARKS STOOD UP FOR HER RIGHTS AS A HUMAN BEING
AND BECAME A CATALYST FOR CHANGE.
HER ACT OF COURAGE WAS THE SPARK
THAT LIT THE FIRES OF FREEDOM THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH.
HER LIFE IS A PORTRAIT OF DIGNITY.
SHE IS A WOMAN WHO TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
PLEASE WELCOME MR. ROBERT KENNEDY, JR.
IN 1966, MY FATHER HAD ROSA PARKS IN MIND
WHEN HE SPOKE THE FOLLOWING WORDS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA:
"EACH TIME A MAN STANDS UP FOR AN IDEAL
"OR ACTS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OTHERS
"OR STRIKES OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE
"HE SENDS FORTH A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE
"AND CROSSING EACH OTHER
"FROM A MILLION DIFFERENT CENTERS OF ENERGY AND DARING
"THOSE RIPPLES BUILD A CURRENT
"THAT CAN SWEEP DOWN THE MIGHTIEST WALLS
OF OPPRESSION AND RESISTANCE."
ROSA PARKS IGNITED THE FLAME
THAT DESTROYED AMERICAN APARTHEID
AND MADE THIS COUNTRY A TRUE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY.
IN THAT SENSE, HER COURAGEOUS ACT--
SITT AND
WAAS IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION'S FORMATION
AS WAS PAUL REVERE'S RIDE OR THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
HERO
AS ANY OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
N
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT THE 1993 ESSENCE AWARD
TO SOMEONE, WHO IN MANY WAYS, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US
TO HAVE AN EVENING AS DIGNIFIED AS THIS--
MISS ROSA PARKS.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL EVENING.
IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE SUFFERING
THAT WE ENDURED IN ALABAMA.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, I HAD THE FAITH
AND I PRAYED THAT WE WOULD ONE DAY
NOT HAVE TO BE INSULTED, MISTREATED
AND SOMETIME PHYSICALLY HURT AND OFTEN KILLED
BECAUSE WE JUST WANTED TO BE FREE PEOPLE.
WE WERE SO VERY FORTUNATE
THAT YOUNG DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
CAME ON THE SCENE AT THAT TIME
AND THAT HE, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS
HELPED TO MAKE OUR PROTEST THE SUCCESS THAT IT WAS.
WE WILL NEVER GO BACK TO WHERE WE ONCE WERE.
I'LL JUST SAY, THIS IS A WONDERFUL NIGHT
IT.
IT SHALL LIVE IN MY MEMORY AS LONG AS I'M HERE.
THANK YOU.
YOUR INSPIRING ACT OF BRAVERY
HAS WON YOU THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION
OF ALL FREEDOM-LOVING AMERICANS.
TONIGHT, MISS KATHLEEN BATTLE LIFTS HER VOICE IN SONG
IN YOUR HONOR.
( strings playing )
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES ♪
♪ RIGHT IN HIS HAND ♪♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES
♪ RIGHT IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD ♪
♪ RIGHT IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪♪ HE'S GOT YOU AND ME RIGHT IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT YOU AND ME RIGHT IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT EVERYBODY IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ♪
♪ HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND. ♪♪
PLEASE WELCOME THE PUBLISHER AND C.E.O.
OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE, MR. EDWARD LEWIS
AND PRESIDENT MR. CLARENCE SMITH.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EVENING.
ON BEHALF OF THE ESSENCE FAMILY
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF TONIGHT'S OUTSTANDING HONOREES
AND THANK ALL OF THE GRACIOUS AND WONDERFUL PRESENTERS.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK
ALL OF OUR EXCITING PERFORMERS
AND, OF COURSE
OUR FABULOUS HOSTS THIS EVENING
MISS PATTI LaBELLE AND MR. DANNY GLOVER.
THANK YOU.
WE HAD A BALL, DIDN'T WE?
IT WAS SCREAMING.
SCREAMING?
( soft scream )
Glover: AND NOW
TO TAKE US HOME IN STYLE
PLEASE WELCOME SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS.
♪ YOU DON'T KNOW ME, OH, MY BROTHER ♪
♪ MY BROTHER ♪
♪♪ I WAS RAISED HERE IN THIS LIVING HELL ♪
♪ LIVING HELL ♪
♪ YOU DON'T KNOW MY KIND IN YOUR WORLD ♪
♪ FAIRLY SOON, THE TIDE WILL TURN ♪
♪ OH, YOU ♪
♪ OH, YOU ♪
♪ TELLING ME THE THINGS ♪
♪ YOU'RE GONNA DO FOR ME ♪
♪ OH, OH, FOR YOU ♪
♪ HEY, I AIN'T BLIND ♪
♪ AND I DON'T LIKE WHAT I THINK I SEE ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS... ♪
CONTINENTAL-- ONE AIRLINE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE COMFORT AND SERVICE
OF INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS AT A BUSINESS CLASS FARE.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE ON CONTINENTAL.
THIS CELEBRATION WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
WHO JOIN ESSENCE IN SALUTING QUALITY.
AT KRAFT GENERAL FOODS, WE FEED MINDS.
AND COLGATE-PALMOLIVE AND ITS FAMILY
OF FINE CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
FOR THE ESSENCE AWARDS, THIS IS JUDY ANN ELWOOD.
Captioning made possible by ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS and CBS
Captioned by The Caption Center WGBH Educational Foundation
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TA
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS ♪