Often times, it takes far too long for talented Black women in Hollywood to get their flowers. Fortunately, Essence Magazine is helping lead the way in honoring Black women who are blazing a path of their own in the world film and television. Not long before the industry’s biggest stars gather into the Dolby Theater, Essence Magazine put together its annual “Black Women In Hollywood” gala. This year, honorees included Quinta Brunson, Aunjanue Ellis, Nia Long and Chanté Adams. Stars like Will Smith, Donald Glover and Serena Williams were also in attendance. The event’s program was headlined by remarks from Ellis, who is nominated for her first Academy Award this evening.
“So much about darkness is derided: it’s horrific, we’re trained to fear it, we’re trained to think that it’s ugly, it’s used as the basis for colorism, for racism. But there is this thing that’s called ‘dark matter’ and it makes up 80 percent of the entire universe. It’s called dark matter because people can’t see it but they know that it exists because, without it, the behavior of the stars, the planets, and the galaxies would make no sense,” Ellis said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Much of my 27-year professional life has been in the dark…this moment of shine, of luminosity, is going to pass…but I will continue to work in the dark anyway.”
Ellis and company will now turn their attention toward the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes, the event will kick off on ABC at 8 p.m. EST on March 27, 2022.
