LaTanya Richardson Jackson delivered a brief but powerful message at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood luncheon Thursday, where she was honored alongside Kerry Washington, Chase Infiniti and the women of Sinners at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
“Work hard, I can’t reiterate that enough,” said Richardson Jackson. “You have to work hard. Work to know your business and then learn who and what. Then be bold enough to make space for the unimaginable, and then be brave enough to embrace it. This is really going to sound deep, but think about it. Learn the language of the invisible so that your presence always speaks,” she added before acknowledging her fellow honorees and delivering final remarks: “Wake up, stay woke, because we who believe in freedom will not rest until it comes.”
Infiniti was recognized as a rising star in a presentation by her One Battle After Another co-star Teyana Taylor, whom she thanked for being one of the Black women who has helped guide her in the early days of her acting career.
“I’ve only had two projects released so far, but on both of those sets, I had the honor of working alongside incredible Black women,” Infiniti stated. “From the very start of my [casting,] which lasted for over six months, I was able to go through that process with the incredible Regina Hall, and she gave me her time and advice and cared for me from the start before the role of Willa was even mine. She encouraged me to find my own voice as Willa and was there for me anytime I needed her. The last six months have been filled with many firsts, but having Teyana and Regina by my side through all made it so much sweeter.
“Before One Battle, the first set I was ever on was a show called Presumed Innocent, and on that set, I had the privilege to get to know and work opposite Ruth Negga,” added Infiniti. “Ruth, to this day, is a constant force in my life. She’s the person I call whenever I get overwhelmed, confused or excited by an opportunity. And she was also my first call for the One Battle press tour because I had no idea what that meant or even looked like. Ruth helped me find my way on my first day on set and it felt like faith meeting her when I did. My career, though it’s just starting, has been marked by the generosity and mentorship of other Black women who paved the path for me. And I feel grateful and honored to be here today, but more than anything, extremely grateful to have been welcomed into this community.”
Costume designer Ruth E. Carter echoed a similar message of community in accepting a special tribute to the women of Sinners, presented by Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, to Carter, producer Zinzi Coogler, production designer Hannah Beachler, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, hair designer Shunika Terry and actresses Wunmi Mosaku and Jayme Lawson.
“I’ve got five nominations,” began Carter, who previously won two Academy Awards for her work on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with Ryan. “But I always said I never wanted to be alone in the celebration because it does take a collaboration to make this all possible. We have such a fine group of people up here that are dedicated to their craft. And when you can meet and align and belong together, it makes the magic come to life.”
“I was nominated for Malcolm X and then I was nominated for Amistad, but I was alone,” added Carter. “We are shepherding 16 [Oscar] nominations, and I’m so proud of the women of Sinners.”
Washington received the fourth honor of the afternoon, presented to her by her former Unprisoned co-star Delroy Lindo, and in her acceptance speech, the actress and producer reflected on her feelings when she was first honored at Black Women in Hollywood in 2012.
“I was nervous to stand up here because I thought it was about me,” Washington admitted. “I felt an outsized stress and pressure because I thought, ‘Oh man, I have to be perfect. I have to win. I have to get this right so that it’s not another 40 years before they give me, before they give any of us a shot.’ And I feared, what if I’m not the right choice? What if somebody else should be standing up here? What if I don’t have what it takes? Back then, I was nervous because I didn’t yet understand that I had been anointed. Despite my fears, I got up here, and I started to speak. And when I felt the love and support in this room, something in me God set free.
“I knew that so many of us had wanted to play that role,” Washington continued, referencing Olivia Pope, whom she portrayed on Scandal from 2012 to 2018. “So many of us had gotten on our knees to ask for his favor, but standing up here, there was no spirit of competition in the air. There was no jealousy. There was no judgment. There was no criticism, no doubt. Now I’m not saying that nobody felt those things or had those thoughts. You might have been cursing me and talking all kinds of trash about me at your kitchen table. And justifiably so, right? Maybe you thought, ‘Why Kerry? I could play that role.’ And you could have, and you would have brought your own special magic to that extraordinary opportunity. But despite all of that, the energy in this room on that day was all love and generosity. You weren’t waiting for me to fail. You were praying for me to win. And I understood. I knew that if the show worked and if I was able to have any semblance of creative currency or power, I was going to pour it back into this room and this community.”
Speaking to how she’s done just that, Washington added of her production company, Simpson Street, “My company takes its name for the street in the Bronx that my mother grew up on. It was founded 10 years ago, but let me tell you, we are just getting started,” she said. “I am proud of every character I have ever played, but I am even more proud to have founded a company that has provided and protected creative opportunities for heroes of mine like Delroy Lindo.”
Marsai Martin served as host of this year’s ceremony, which featured a surprise opening performance of “Sweet Lady” by Tyrese and closed with singer Mya performing her single, “Unbreakable.” Thursday’s luncheon marked the 19th year of Essence Black Women in Hollywood.
