We are thrilled to announce the 7th annual Black Girl Magic Ball will be held at the world renowned, Lincoln Center! The annual gala unites artists, community leaders and cultural ambassadors of all generations to foster a sense of community and pay homage to the achievements of Black women from across the nation. Additionally, the ball serves as a fundraising benefit for non-profit organizations that empower the upcoming generation of phenomenal change makers.
All are invited to join us as we uplift and shine a light on Black Girl Magic in all its glory!
The Ball Heads to LINCOLN CENTER
Unveiling the 2024 Black Girl Magic honorees
Amanda Seales
Amanda Seales is a comedian and creative visionary with a Masters in African American studies from Columbia University. You know her as, “Tiffany DuBois” of HBO’s Insecure and her HBO stand up special, “I Be Knowin”. her political comedy documentary, “In Amanda We Trust”, is a tool, using laughter to bridge civics and culture!
Olayemi Olurin
Olayemi Olurin is a movement lawyer, political commentator, writer, and abolitionist thinker. she educates people about systemic racism, abolition, and why we should divest from the prison industrial complex.
Toi Derricotte
Toi Derricotte is the co-founder Cave Canem, a home for the many voices of African American poetry Her sixth collection of poetry, “I“ New and Selected Poems, was shortlisted for the 2019 National Book Award.
Hope Boykin
Two time “Bessie Award” winner, Hope Boykin was an original member of Complexions, danced with Philadanco, and completed 20 years with the Alvin Ailey American Dance theater.
Dr. Bettina L. Love
Dr. Bettina L. Love holds the prestigious William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal.
2024 Black Girl Magic Ally Award
FredErick Joseph
Frederick is a two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Black Friend, Patriarchy Blues, Better Than We Found It (2022) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Courage to Dream.
How it started?
“You black girl magic
You black girl fly
You black girl brilliance
You black girl wonder
You black girl shine
You black girl bloom”
Founded by Mahogany L. Browne, award winning writer, poet, organizer and Lincoln Center’s inaugural Poet-in-residence. Black girl magic ball came into existence as a book release celebration for her illustrated book, Black Girl Magic and turned into a community celebration of Black girls everywhere.
2021
2023
2022
2020
2019
2018
Honorees
Amara La Negra
Dr. Uche Blackstock
Elizabeth Alexander
Aja Monet
Dr. Bobbi Peterson
Sonia Sanchez
Toshi Reagon
Natasha Miller
Alexis Pauline
Natasha S. Alford
Camonghne Felix
Kamilah Forbes
Jeanine Cook
Ola Ronke Akinmowo
Cheryl Boyce-Taylor
Nicole Sealey
Jamila Woods
Elizabeth Alexander
Glory Edim
Yandy Smith
All proceeds donated to organizations empowering Black Girls and women
Black women led organization that champions, centers, and elevates young marginalized voices as leaders at the intersection of the literary arts and civic engagement. Through the transformative power of the written and spoken word, Urban Word provides youth with the tools, training and platforms to rewrite the narratives that shape their lives and communities. Founder of the National Youth Poet Laureate program.
Far more than a walking group, GirlTREK is a life-saving sisterhood. We are a campaign to heal intergenerational trauma, fight systemic racism and transform Black lives. As women organize walking teams, they also mobilize community members to support advocacy efforts and lead a Civil Rights-inspired health movement.
PAST Purveyors of Black Girl Magic
SONIA SANCHEZ
poet, activist, scholar and former Professor of English and Women's Studies at Temple University.
One of the most important writers of the Black Arts Movement, Sanchez is the author of sixteen books.
DR. Ilyasah Shabazz
award-winning author, motivational speaker, Social activist and educator, promoting higher education for at-risk youth & interfaith dialogue to build bridges between cultures for young leaders of the world. She SPEAKS to audiences around the world spreading the legacy of her PARENTS Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz.
Aja Monet
aja monet is a Grammy nominated surrealist blues poet. She follows in the long legacy and tradition of poets participating and assembling in social movements. Her first full collection of poems entitled, my mother was a freedom fighter is a testament to all mothers, women, and girls who struggle to live, love, and move freely in the world.
Dr. EVE EWING
Writer, scholar, cultural organizer anD associate professor at the University of Chicago where she teaches courses on education and racial inequality.
She’s published several Books AND writes comic books, including Ironheart and Black Panther.
Black Girl Magic Fellowship
The BLACK GIRL MAGIC FELLOWSHIP, in partnership with Urban Word is creative writing workshop series exploring Black femme artistry and contributions for NYC/NJ girls & non-binary youth ages 13-19.
6 week masterclasses on writing, creative career exploration, leadership, building self esteem and self-care.
Stephanie Pacheco
Black Girl Magic Fellow &
New York City Youth Poet Laureate 2023
Our Founder
Mahogany L. Browne
Since 2018. Mahogany L. Browne, selected as Kennedy Center's Next 50 and Wesleyan's 2022-23 Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, the Executive Director of JustMedia, Artistic Director of Urban Word, is a writer, playwright, organizer, & educator.
Browne has received fellowships from All Arts, Arts for Justice, Air Serenbe, Baldwin for the Arts, Cave Canem, Poets House, Mellon Research, & Rauschenberg. She is the author of recent works: Vinyl Moon, Chlorine Sky (optioned for Steppenwolf Theater), Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Woke Baby, & Black Girl Magic.
Founder of the diverse lit initiative Woke Baby Book Fair, Browne is currently touring her latest poetry collection Chrome Valley received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was highlighted in the New York Times.
She is the first-ever poet-in-residence at the Lincoln Center and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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