An inspirational message of girl power was served up with glamour and bling Saturday night, when “Black Girls Rock!” taped its annual award show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Honorees Queen Latifah and Venus Williams joined dozens of celebrities — including Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley of “Glee” and broadcaster Soledad O’Brien — on the red carpet prior to the show, an upbeat celebration with music, laughter and a few tears. “The name says it all. Black girls do rock. We need to own that, to live it,” a regal Queen Latifah said outside NJPAC, where dozens of photographers were shooting the honorees, presenters and special guests. “It’s from my peers, from my ladies,” Latifah said. “I’m happy it’s happening in Newark. I was born here, and I always try to come home, to let everyone know in Newark, Irvington, East Orange, Jersey City, that we can dream, and we can make those dreams reality.” Patti LaBelle, Mariah Carey and Janelle Monae brought the star power to the celebration that also featured emerging artists and young women who are making a difference. Previous ceremonies have featured Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington and India.Arie. Beverly Bond created “Black Girls Rock!” in 2006 as a way to promote positive images of women of color. The 2013 ceremony is the eighth production and the fourth to be broadcast on television. BET Networks will air it Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. “Our young girls need to see their role models, to see them celebrated, and to see them in this way,” Bond said, her hand sweeping the red carpet. The can-do message was woven into the performances, with Riley turning in an updated version of “I Am Woman” and Kelly Rowland turning in a spirited rendition of “Gone” with rapper Eve and the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Sevyn Streeter. But the focus was decidedly on the role model honorees. Tennis star Williams was celebrated as a trailblazer who worked for gender parity and equal prize money in a sport she helped to transform. Co-host Tracee Ellis Ross was joined by her co-stars on TV’s “Girlfriends,” Golden Brooks, Persia White and Jill Marie Jones, to present the Shot Caller Award to Mara Brock Akil, the creator of the hit comedy-drama. A teary Akil told the packed house that despite America’s obsession with pictures, there aren’t enough images of young black women. “Nobody else sees you, but I see you,” she said. “You are strong and brave and bold. You are also lonely scared, insecure and vulnerable.” LaBelle received the Living Legend Award, with Carey serving as presenter, while Latifah was honored as the Rock Star. “She’s a queen who reigns with a servant’s heart, a trailblazer who makes fearless choices and power moves,” co-host Regina King said. Some of the most memorable moments came from the non-celebrities, including Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, who received the Social Humanitarian Award. “Black women have rocked history, and I want you to rock the future,” Edelman said told the audience after accepting the award from actress Nia Long. “Whoever rocks the cradle, rocks the future. I want you to rock the future forward.” Other honors went to and ballet dancer Misty Copeland and community organizer Ameena Matthews, the force behind a Chicago anti-violence organization called The Interrupters. Matthews’s funny and tearful speech brought the crowd to its feet. “You reach back, like Queen and Beverly do,” a teary Matthews said. “You don’t have to put yourself in front of gunfire, like crazy me, but you reach back.” Check out the photos below and don’t forget to watch this Sunday!
