• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Inside The  2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards
By Joi-Marie McKenzie · Updated December 6, 2020
Home · ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood

Inside Black Women In Hollywood

By Joi-Marie McKenzie·Updated December 6, 2020
For the 13th year in a row, ESSENCE honored just a few of the phenomenal Black women who deserved to be seen.

A flurry of giggles hung mid-air in the foyer of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on an usually chilly day in Beverly Hills. A girrrrl, sis you look fabulous and let me see those shoes followed.

This isn’t just any luncheon ahead of the 92nd Academy Awards, a ceremony, which (again) completely lacks the presence of diversity in its nominees despite a year of laud-worthy films created, directed and starring Black actors. It’s more like a family reunion. It is a family reunion.

ESSENCE’s Black Women In Hollywood awards, for the thirteenth year, fills the gap between the Academy and real life. And in real life, Black women shape culture, tell soul-tugging narratives and create art that will impact generations. So it made sense that Niecy Nash, Melina Matsoukas, Lashana Lynch, and the cast of Pose, along with its executive producer Janet Mock, were feted this year.

Inside The  2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards
(L-R) Issa Rae, Melina Matsoukas, and Yvonne Orji attend the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on February 06, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

By the double doors, Jenifer Lewis stood in waiting, wearing wide-framed sunglasses and a jacket that could double as her superwoman cape. “You good?” a nameless sister asked the mother of Black Hollywood, and last year’s honoree. She nodded.

There was Lena hugging Ava. Bresha greeting Aja Naomi. Issa sharing a joke with Quinta. Ava taking selfies with Billy. And that was all before the actual ceremony, when this year’s honorees reminded us through their moving acceptance speeches why the world needs to turn their attention.

Inside The  2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Hailie Sahar, Robin Thede, and Angelica Ross attend the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on February 06, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Sitting in crossed chiavari chairs, the room illuminated. Wrapped in billowy white drapes, it made the sacred space appear as if it were a seventh place in heaven; the perfect place to have service.

Each honoree gave their sermon: Lynch reminded us about the “power of Black woman’s self love” because even a dark-skinned Black woman with short hair can still “advance” in Hollywood.

Matsoukas made us feel seen when she shared she was “battling [her] own rage” thanks to White supremacy. Thankfully, she reminded us, as Ava DuVernay reminded her, to step past anger and “reclaim” joy.

Mock, and the cast of Pose, brought us to tears when they shared with us the “intolerance” and violence trans women face daily. Opening our hearts, they shared what we already know: that Black trans women are “worthy of our protection and care.”

Inside The  2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Ava DuVernay and Brittany Howard attend the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on February 06, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

And Nash gave a revealing benediction, being transparent about her divorce from her estranged husband. Although her honor was for her work on big and small screens, the actress gave us a moment of transparency, saying this moment in time for any woman “will ultimately grow you, stretch you and make you better.”

Even after Brittany Howard performed an altar call of sorts in her vibrating alto tone, there were more tears, hugs and selfies. Anything to make the afternoon last just a little bit longer.

Inside The  2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards

The 2020 ESSENCE BlackWomen In Hollywood Awards was presented by Ford and sponsored by AT&T Humanity of Connection, Coca-Cola, Geico, Hulu, L’Oréal Paris, McDonald’s and Netflix.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now