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Home · Awards & Events

15 Years of Black Women in Hollywood: The Honorees

From Ruby Dee to Zendaya, let’s take a look back at the talented women honored at the Black Women In Hollywood ceremony over the years.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
By Okla Jones · Updated April 8, 2022

What began as a luncheon celebrating the accomplishments of women who excelled in film and television, the ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards has grown into one of those “must attend” events in the industry, and the opportunity to witness that females of color have on all forms of entertainment.

From its inception in 2008, this ceremony highlighted up-and-coming actresses, as well as established stars and cultural icons. Some of the honorees include dynamic women such as Ruby Dee, Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, Pam Grier, Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Zendaya, and a long list of others. What is most important about this awards show is that it not only pays homage to the year’s on-screen contributions, but also the creative genius of Black women as producers, writers, and directors.

In preparation for the 2022 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards, here’s a list of all the honorees from years past.

The 2022 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Ford, Disney’s Onyx Collective, SmartWater and Warner Brothers Television Group.

01
2008
Jurnee Smollett, Suzanne de Passe, Ruby Dee and Jada Pinkett Smith were honored at the First Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
02
2009
In 2009, Halle Berry, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Taraji P. Henson and Diahann Carroll were the year’s honorees.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
03
2010
2010’s ceremony highlighted the contributions of Cicely Tyson, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Zoe Saldana, and Gabourey Sidibe.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
04
2011
Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Loretta Devine and Viola Davis were honored at the 2011 Black Women in Hollywood Awards ceremony.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
05
2012
At the 5th annual luncheon, the accomplishments of Paula Patton, Kerry Washington, Pam Grier, Shonda Rhimes and Octavia Spencer were highlighted.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
06
2013
Held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the 2013 Black Women In Hollywood Awards honored Quvenzhane Wallis, Naomie Harris, Alfre Woodard, Mara Brock Akil, Gabrielle Union, and Oprah Winfrey.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
07
2014
Lupita N’yongo, Ava DuVernay, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Stefani Saintonge, as well as paying tribute to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
08
2015
The 8th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon celebrated Ruth Carter, the cast of Orange is the New Black, Regina King, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Iman Milner.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
09
2016
Tracee Ellis Ross, Nina Shaw, Debbie Allen, and Thais Francis were honored at the 2016 ceremony.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
10
2017 – 10th Anniversary
For the 10th Anniversary of the Black Women In Hollywood Awards, the contributions of Issa Rae, Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monae, and Aja Naomi King were celebrated.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
11
2018
Danai Gurira, Tiffany Haddish, Tessa Thompson and Lena Waithe were the 2018 honorees.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
12
2019
At the 2019 Black Women In Hollywood luncheon, the honorees included Amandla Stenberg, KiKi Layne, Regina Hall and Jennifer Lewis.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
13
2020
In 2020, ESSENCE celebrated the cast of Pose, Melia Matsoukas, Niecy Nash and Lashana Lynch at the Black Women In Hollywood luncheon.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
14
2021 (Virtual)
At last year’s virtual ceremony, the list of honorees were: Zendaya, Cynthia Erivo, Michaela Coel, Whoopi Goldberg and Andra Day.
15 Years of Black Women In Hollywood: A Look Back At The Honorees
TOPICS:  ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood
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