The 'Ebony pre-Oscar celebration: take 3'

Ebony, May, 2007 by Vandell Cobb, Valerie Goodloc

The "EBONY Pre-Oscar Celebration: Take 3" further established the magazine's annual recognition of Hollywood's best as one of the premier events surrounding the Academy Awards. At the Jim Henson Studios, the affair honored Academy Awardwinners Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker, Herbie Hancock and actress/singer Janet Jackson. There was also special recognition for Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy.

On hand to congratulate the honorees were such celebrities as Jermaine and Jackie Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Richard Roundtree, Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Raven-Symone, Chris Tucker, Victoria Rowell, Isaiah Washington, Tommy Davidson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sinbad, Nicole Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons and Lil Jon.

Sponsors for the "Pre-Oscar Celebration" included Lincoln, Southwest Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., and the Islands of the Bahamas.

(1) LINDA JOHNSON RICE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF JOHNSON PUBLISHING CO., AND HUSBAND (FAR RIGHT) TRIPLE M ACCEPTANCE PRESIDENT MEL FARR ARE JOINED BY HONOREES (L. TO R.) HERBIE HANCOCK, JANET JACKSON, HALLE BERRY AND FOREST WHITAKER (2) PROGRAM CO-HOSTS SHAUN ROBINSON AND KEVIN FRAZIER (3) DENNIS BOSTON (L. TO R.), SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EBONY; STERLING ARMSTRONG, NATIONAL ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR, UNIWORLD; MARC PERRY, MULTICULTURAL MARKETING MANAGER, LINCOLN MOTOR DIVISION; RHONDA NELSON, NATIONAL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, UNIWORLD; CHUCK MORRISON, GENERAL MANAGER & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, UNIWORLD; AND JOHN SHELBY, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, EBONY. (4) ATTENDEES DANCED TO THE MUSIC OF DJ SPINDERELLA (5) ED BETHEL, CONSUL GENERAL OF THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS (6) CHARLES POOLE, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, ANHEUSERBUSCH, INC., PRESENTS A $25,000 CHECK TO DR. JANNETTE L. DATES, DEAN OF THE JOHN H. JOHNSON SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY (7) ROBERT GRIGGS, EBONY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (2ND FROM LEFT) IS JOINED BY (L. TO R.) MARIAN THOMPSON, MULTICULTURAL MARKETING SPECIALIST, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES; ROB BROWN, DIRECTOR OF SALES & MULTICULTURAL MARKETING, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES; EDNA RUANO, PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES; AND RAQUEL DANIELS, CAMELOT COMMUNICATIONS, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ACCOUNT TEAM (8) JANET JACKSON AND BROTHERS JERMAINE AN D JACKIE (9) HALLE BERRY AND HER MOTHER, JUDITH (10) RAVEN-SYMONE (11) BOW WOW (12) MARY J. BLIGE AND HERBIE HANCOCK (13) RAQUEL GRAHAM CRAYTON, NATIONAL MARKETING DIRECTOR, EBONY (LEFT); BILL HAMMOND, EVENT ORGANIZER; LYDIA DAVIS EADY, MEDIA CONSULTANT FOR JOHNSON PUBLISHING CO. AND PRESIDENT OF JOY COMMUNICATIONS (14) ISAIAH WASHINGTON, HIS WIFE, JENISA, AND ACTRESS VANESSA BELL CALLOWAY (15) LUDACRIS (16) CHRIS BROWN (17) ACTOR TOMMY DAVIDSON AND THE REV. JESSE L. JACKSON (18) BORIS KODJOE AND NICOLE PARKER (19) TRACIE THOMS (20) CHRIS TUCKER (21) HENRY SIMMONS (22) SALLI RICHARDSON-WHITFIELD AND DONDRE WHITFIELD (23) MOTHER-TO-BE AND ACTRESS KIM FIELDS (24) JIMMY JAM HARRIS AND WIFE LISA (25) MUSICIANS AND DANCERS FROM THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS OPENED THE CELEBRATION WITH A SAMPLE OF THE "JUNKANOO" PARADE (26) BRYAN MONROE, VICE PRESIDENT & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, EBONY AND JET, AND HALLE BERRY (27) NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE STAR TERRELL OWENS (28) ENTERTAINER LIL JON (29) JANET JACKSON AND JA'NET DuBOIS (BOTH OF WHOM CO-STARRED ON TELEVISION'S GOOD TIMES)