Jada Pinkett Smith, who brought the historically black college experience to life on "A Different World," will soon be honored for her contributions to black institutions on and off screen.
Pinkett Smith will be honored during the HBCU Power Awards at Morehouse College on Oct. 20, along with other esteemed alumni of HBCUs, according to Morehouse’s website. The event, which is expected to draw more than 1,000 people, begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at the Martin Luther King International Chapel, 830 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta. Other honorees include Keinon Johnson, vice president of urban promotions at Interscope Records, and Beverly Anderson, executive vice president of cards and retail services at Wells Fargo.
The inaugural HBCU Power Awards will highlight the achievements of young alumni who attended HBCUs and others that have made innovative contributions to business, sports, philanthropy, music, technology, politics, civil service and fashion. The awards ceremony will also serve as a fundraising initiative, benefiting need-based scholarships at Morehouse College.
Pinkett-Smith through her role as Lena James on “A Different World” brought the HBCU experience into the homes of millions in the early 1990s. Since then, the actress and producer has continued to highlight HBCUs through her partnership with Morehouse, Careers in Entertainment Atlanta, a one-day event that gives 500 Atlanta-area high school and college students the opportunity to hear from leaders and launch their entertainment careers.
Tickets to the HBCU Power Awards are now on sale at $23 in advance for students; $33-$53 in advance for the general public. For more details, visit hbcupowerawards.com.
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