Acclaimed author Terry McMillan.
The first-annual 2008 ESSENCE Literary Awards included a who’s who of the literary industry. The invitation-only event celebrated established and emerging African-American authors at Le Parker Meridien in New York City.
Singer/songwriter Sean Levert arrives to represent his father and brother, Eddie and Gerald Levert, for their final collaboration entitled I Got Your Back.
Model Alek Wek was a finalist in the Best Memoir category for her self-titled book, Alek.
Emmy-nominated actress Victoria Rowell was one of the night’s presenters and also a finalist in the Memoir category for her book The Women Who Raised Me.
From left to right, Editor-in-Chief Angela Burt-Murray, Emmy-nominated actress Victoria Rowell, Today show co-anchor Hoda Kotb, and Michelle Ebanks, President Essence Communications Inc.
Emmy-winning actress Lynn Whitfield arrives to present The Inspiration Award.
From left to right, Hoda Kotb, Victoria Powell, Patrik Bass, Terry McMillan, M. Gillespie (first editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine), Michelle Ebanks, Angela Burt-Murray.
From left to right, Michelle Ebanks, President Essence Communications Inc., Cara Robinson, Executive Director of Color Cosmetics for Avon and Maria Givens, Senior Manager, Media
From left to right, Michelle Ebanks, President Essence Communications Inc., Bishop T.D. Jakes and Yolonda Kirby, Assistant Zone Marketing Manager, State Farm
Actor Jaime Hector from The Wire presented the Current Affairs award to Randall Robinson for An Unbroken Agony.
