NATIVE SON AWARDS
On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, I hosted the inaugural NATIVE SON AWARDS to celebrate Black Gay Men and pay homage to three men who have been mavericks in their professions and community, and who also live their lives authentically. CNN’s Don Lemon, Black Lives Matter’s DeRay Mckesson, and two time Tony Award winning playwright, director and producer George C. Wolfe were honored.
The NATIVE SON AWARDS were held at Cadillac House in lower Manhattan and sponsored by Cadillac, HBO and Belvedere Red.
The music for the evening was curated by Bill Coleman of Peace Biscuit. Singer, actor, educator and Mister of Music at First Corinthian Baptist Church Charles Anthony Bryant performed “Let Them Hear You” from Ragtime. Photographer Kevin Harry created a KH Zine X Native Son Portrait Studio to capture striking images of the attendees. And the food for the evening was catered by Chef Max Hardy.
NATIVE SON is my new platform created to inspire and empower Black Gay Men. I call it a movement to bring us together in a positive space to engage in fellowship, mentorship, and networking. NATIVE SON is named after James Baldwin’s Notes Of A Native Son. The intention of NATIVE SON is to change the narrative of Black Gay Men and elevate their existence in the world. EW