00:00Here to get things started and say a few words is a woman whose bold, disruptive, unwavering leadership is carrying the Essence brand into a new era.
00:11She is a tough innovator. She is a cultural architect. She is a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
00:20Please welcome President and CEO of Essence Ventures, Caroline Wanga.
00:30To my brother Boris, if Germany want to do black people, I mean,
01:00we'll take that.
01:03But to my brother Boris, who is, of course, our host today, but more importantly, part of the revolution when you ain't looking.
01:13It's an honor to have you.
01:16When you were asked, there was no hesitation.
01:19And what you do in your daily life to make sure that the black woman understands what she is yet stand next to her is something that's taken for granted.
01:32So I'm thanking you publicly on behalf of us all.
01:35How does it go in German?
01:40Is that I love you? Is that it?
01:42Does it close? No?
01:43Eighth grade. Failed.
01:44Okay.
01:44With that, while Essence Ventures has many parts to it, including Essence Communications, Afropunk, Beautycon, and Essence Studios,
01:59today, the Essence Brand represents five decades and five more.
02:06And as a part of what we are doing in this moment is defining and empowering the black woman to operate as CEO of home, of culture, of community.
02:20Not a black home, black culture, and black community.
02:26The CEO of black everything and home, culture, and community.
02:35There's something I often say, which is this thing that we're trying to do as a black community and as black women is an all-in, full-contact, participatory endeavor.
02:45However, everybody plays a role, not the same role, but the role they're best positioned at impact, and the choice not to play a role, plays a role.
02:56So in honor of Maya Bass, pick your role.
03:01She's not the only historic person joining us today.
03:05And I'm probably going to forget some people, but there's a couple I'm going to call out.
03:09The first of those is the first black, queer, immigrant, woman, to be the voice of the most powerful man in the world.
03:21White House Press Secretary Corinne Jean-Pierre is with us tonight.
03:32Pick your role.
03:33And then there's another history maker that tried really hard to join us today, but was unable to.
03:44So she sent a message that I'm going to read on her behalf and will be displayed on the screen.
03:51Yes, I have my phone, because paper is vintage.
03:56Mom.
04:00Do we have it, B?
04:03Put it up on the screen.
04:07March 9th, 2023, from the Office of the Vice President of the United States.
04:14I am honored to extend my greetings and congratulations to the honorees, leaders, and distinguished guests of the 16th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, California.
04:28For over a decade, Essence has honored and uplifted groundbreaking black women who have transformed the film and television industry.
04:39Today, we honor a group of artists who have inspired millions of people across our nation and around the world.
04:49Through your voice and your vision, you have given us joy, strength, and hope.
04:58You have brought to life the stories that, for far too long, have gone untold.
05:04And you have blazed a trail, not only as artists, but as role models that will guide generations to come.
05:12My favorite line in this letter is, so on behalf of our nation, on behalf of our nation, thank you for your incredible contributions.
05:30Congratulations, congratulations again, the first black female Vice President, Kamala Harris.
05:43Quite a while ago, there was something that a lot of people heard from Sister Pearl Cleege.
05:50And it was called, We Speak Your Names, and it went, Because we are free women, born of free women, who are born of free women, back as far as time begins, we celebrate your freedom.
06:08Because we are wise women, born of wise women, who are born of wise women, we celebrate your wisdom.
06:17Because we are strong women, because we are strong women, born of strong women, who are born of strong women, we celebrate your strength.
06:31Because we are magical women, born of magical women, who are born of magical women, we celebrate your magic.
06:44My sisters, we are gathered here to speak your names.
06:47We are here because you are, we are here because we are your daughters, as surely as if you had conceived us, nurtured us, and carried us in your wombs,
07:00and then sent us out into the world to make our mark, to see what we see, be what we be, but better, truer, deeper, because of the shining example of your own incandescent lives.
07:13We are here to speak your names, because we have enough sense to know that we did not spring full-blown from the forehead of Zeus,
07:23or arrive on the scene like Topsy, our sister once removed, who somehow just growed.
07:30We know that we are walking in footprints made deep by the confident strides of women who parted the air before them like the forces of nature that you are.
07:43We are here to speak your names, because you taught us that the search is always for the truth, and that when people show us who they are, we should believe them.
07:56We are here because you taught us that sister speak can continue to be our native tongue, no matter how many languages we learn, as we move about as citizens of the world, and of the ever-evolving universe.
08:08We are here to speak your names, because of the way you made for us, because of the prayers you prayed for us, because we are the ones you conjured up,
08:20hoping we would have strength enough, and discipline enough, and talent enough, and nerve enough to step into the light when it turned in our direction and just smile a while.
08:28We are the ones you hoped would make you proud, because of all of your hard work, makes all of yours part of something better, truer, deeper, something that lights the way ahead like a lamp unto our feet,
08:49as steady as the unforgettable beat of our collective heart.
08:53We speak your name, Dominique Thorne.
08:56We speak your name, Tara Duncan.
09:01We speak your name, Danielle Deadweiler.
09:06We speak your name, Gina Prince Byfoot.
09:11We speak your name, Shirley Ralph.
09:15And then for the brothers, we speak your name, Ryan Kugler and Danielle Kalua.
09:22We speak your name.
09:23We speak your name, and for our sisters that are presenting, we speak your name, Yara Shahadi.
09:33We speak your name, Chinoway Chukwe.
09:36We speak your name, Viola Davis.
09:39We speak your name, Lisa Ann Walter.
09:42We also speak the names of those that chose to go on this impact journey with us.
09:49And so, we call out, not our sponsors, but our partners and purpose, who also make sure that the revolution is financed.
09:57Shout out to Emmett Dennis.
10:08So, for the financiers of the revolution, we call Coca-Cola Zero.
10:15We call the Onyx Collective.
10:24We call Amazon Prime.
10:29We call Netflix.
10:32We call Smartwater.
10:34And as a point of personal privilege, I call John.
10:40I call Henry.
10:42I call Gabby.
10:45I call Pam.
10:46They know who they are.
10:48Y'all took the bet when nobody else would take the bet, and because of your bet, everybody's betting, and I'm not taking that for granted.
10:54So, in addition to my family, my mother, Dr. Pamela Wonga's here, my brother, James Wonga, my sister, Kate McDonald, my niece, Ayo, my nephew, Xavier, we call them the Mukwangas.
11:11Thank you for being witness and protection for the purpose journey.
11:16I stand here because you stand.
11:18I'm just Caroline Aumakola Wonga because of you.
11:24And then on behalf of the chairman, Rich Lou Dennis, the entire, where you at, Rich?
11:35The most optimistic person I've ever met in my life, but my partner in mission, money, and mischief, the board of directors, the ecosystem of Sundial company, brand of companies,
11:50and the phenomenal, phenomenal movement makers that are the team that make up Essence Ventures, and specifically Essence Communications.
12:01We welcome you to this room because of what we are, what we do, what we can be, and what we can do.
12:12Enjoy the program.
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