The Clik Awards Take Atlanta
By Keith Boykin
Tuesday, November 28 2006, 11:49AM
It was one of the most inspiring events I've attended. The first annual Clik Awards took place Saturday night at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and the turnout was amazing. Everyone, from recording artists Kevin Aviance and Billy Porter to actors Wilson Cruz and Rodney Chester, was on hand for the ceremony. The event, sponsored by Clik Magazine, was co-hosted by Chester and performance artist Harmonica Sunbeam.
The awards ceremony brought together a diverse array of leading figures in the community, including TV & film producer Nathan Hale Williams, Noah's Arc creator Patrik Ian Polk, best-selling author E. Lynn Harris, publisher and editor Lisa C. Moore, Clik Magazine publisher Dwight Powell, Cambridge Mayor Ken Reeves, photographers Duane Cramer and Jerry Boles, NBJC CEO Alexander Robinson, Film makers Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear, authors Rashid Darden, Ricc Rollins and Doug Cooper, Black AIDS Institute Executive Director Phill Wilson, Delta Airlines Program Manager Rafer Johnson, and film director Maurice Jamal.
Also on hand were Rudy Carns, Joe Hawkins, J.L. King, Jeffrey King, John Campbell, Raquel Lord, and dozens of other well known people in the community.
Activist and writer Jasmyne Cannick said she was very moved several times by the ceremony. "One fact that was repeated over and over throughout the evening was how much an event like this had been missing in our community," she wrote on her blog.
"You could feel the love in the room as all of the award recipients rubbed elbows and smiled for dozens of cameras from all their fans," L.T. wrote on his blog, o1LT.
The event was sponsored by Delta Airlines, which helped to underwrite the travel cost for some of the participants.
The 2006 Clik Magazine Elite Winners List
BUSINESS
John Campbell (New Jersey)
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY
Jasmyne CannicK (Los Angeles)
Rudolph Carns (Atlanta)
Joe Hawkins (Oakland)
Phill Wilson (Los Angeles)
Rev. Antonio Jones (Atlanta)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Patrik-Ian Polk (Los Angeles)
Wilson Cruz (Los Angeles)
Rodney Chester (Los Angeles)
Maurice Jamal (New York)
Quincy LeNear & Deondray Gossett (Los Angeles)
Rashid Darden (Washington D.C.)
E. Lynn Harris (Little Rock)
Kevin Aviance (New York)
Billy Porter (New York)
Raquel Lord (Atlanta)
Sophia McIntosh (Atlanta)
MEDIA
Ramon Johnson (New York)
Lisa C. Moore (Washington D.C.)
Dwight Powell (Atlanta)
Duane Cramer (San Francisco)
Ric Rollins (Tampa)
POLITICS
Keith Boykin (New York)
Hon. Ken Reeves (Cambridge)
Alexander Robinson (Washington D.C.)
Dr. David Malebranche (Atlanta)
ICON HONOREES
Archbishop Carl Bean - Founder of Unity Fellowship Church Movement (Los Angeles)
Alan Bell - Publishing Pioneer (Los Angeles)
Traxx Atlanta - Nightclub Promoter (Atlanta)
Comments conceal
Avery
November 28 2006, 12:04PM
I am excited to see that such an event took place, but I am a little disheartened that no one from Chicago, IL received an award. I notice representation from NY, LA, ATL, and DC among other cities, but as the third most populated city in the nation, Chicago has no GLBT advocates worthy of recognition? Could this be why NBJC does not have a Chicago chapter? Chicago is home to important civil rights activists Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters. Is Chicago black-conscious but not gay-conscious?
Chris
November 28 2006, 2:30PM
How fabulous! I think that it's so awesome that there is a strong national Black gay community. If only we small town folks could get plugged in. I wonder about the details of a possible showing of the awards on cable. Are we talking Logo, which I unfortunately don't get...or something like BET, which I get but abhor.
Blue
November 28 2006, 3:11PM
Wonderful ... what a great thing to see. I'm especially pleased to see Carl Bean honored. This is very cool. I'm happy to see us recognizing our own. Congrats to all honorees! I hope to see more events like this emerging as we claim our places in the world.
Doug Cooper-Spencer
November 28 2006, 3:13PM
Hey Keith,
Wasn't it a great night? The vibe in the room, which was packed, was so positive. My partner and I couldn't stop smiling. I looked around the room at all the beautiful black faces and everyone was like, beaming. We were all proud! And the fact that I was even nominated was in itself an honor because it will forever be recorded in my mind as an historic event. And it will forever stay in my heart just how loving this big family of ours can be. Dwight Powell told me he plans on making this an annual event. I advise everyone to make it out to the next Clik Awards.
Jon Gabriel Ortiz
November 28 2006, 8:30PM
WOW!!!! That is all I can say about this event. Back when Oprah did the Legends Ball, I thought I had experienced a great thing...and I did!!! However, this was greater than that because to me it was personal. It was about US. About OUR power, OUR time, OUR ability to defy the myths that a Black Gay Community doesn't exist. I wish to congratulate EVERYONE that received an award especially those that received their award on the merit system of LOVE. As I sat in the room I knew that all the gay bashing I personally experienced in the `80's on Christopher Street, All the lives we lost to AIDS and Homphobia, all the moments of lovelessness and powerlessness...all that was not in vain!!! To you my brother Keith, I say that we have crossed yet one more river! But I ain't done walking yet!!!
Texas76132
November 28 2006, 9:48PM
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Each of you are worthy of praise and deserving of the positive recognition you get. That's a very nice picture. Kudos to the corporate sponsors for not running away from this event. Hopefully their sponsorship means that we black gays and lesbians are moving up in the world. I saw on-line video interviews of Doug Cooper-Spencer and Michael Christopher and discussing their books on another website by accident. They are very handsome men and smooth talkers.
playboyadonis
November 28 2006, 11:36PM
You guys look happy and put a smile on my face looking at the picture. Keith, why you always in the back of the bunch in pictures? And who is that guy standing to the left (up front and in the middle) of the girl in the blue shirt? He's handsome.
Quincy LeNear
November 29 2006, 12:56AM
Just to answer Avery who was disheartened that Chicago didn't seem to be represented. I am a Chicago native and I represent Chicago always (The L, Harold's Chicken, etc). However, the event was a historical moment for us all, regardless of our geographic locations. And I am honored to come from Chicago and receive such an award along with so many people I admire.
However, my works take me to Los Angeles where the resources are more available for my industry. Trust me, I'm a home town boy representing the Windy City no matter where I may reside.
Nathan Williams & J.L King were also representatives of Chicago who were present and also nominated. I too question if we have any vocal SGL advocates in the city of Chicago? I am not aware of anyone in particular. Maybe that's something to think about. Be the change we want to see in the world.
Your Windy City Brother,
Quincy LeNear
playboyadonis
November 29 2006, 2:55AM
as a followup to my earlier post, I found out who that "guy" is and now I feel -embarassed is not the word. Leave it to me...would only happen to me...etc...sorry if I was stepping on anyone's toes or if my comment earlier was not appropriate but I had no idea who he was/is. His smile makes me melt..........sorry
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