The 2013 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Honors ceremony was held Saturday night at the Warner Theatre. The purpose of this annual event is to celebrate extraordinary African-American achievement and accomplishment.
The 2013 BET Honorees are pastor T.D. Jakes (Allstate Award for Education), legendary R&B singer Chaka Kahn (Pantene Award for Musical Arts), actress Halle Berry (Lexus Award for Service), WNBA player Lisa Leslie (U.S. Army Award for Athletics), and Clarence Avant (AT&T Entrepreneur Award).
Clarance Avant is a musical executive and businessman known to many as the "Godfather of Black Music". Avant was instrumental to the music careers of Kool and the Gang, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the S.O.S. Band. Avant was also the owner of the first African-American owned FM radio station in Los Angeles, and was the first African-American to serve on the Polygram Management Board. Locally, Avant serves as a member of the historic Howard Theatre Rebirth and Restoration Board.
Every year the BET Honors brings to DC (a city accustomed to powerful people) an amazing collection of celebrity and talent. Among the performers and attendees were: Wayne Brady, Mint Condition, Alicia Keys, Ledisi, Y'anna Crawley, Cedric the Entertainer, Kem, Russ Parr, Debra Lee, Susan Taylor, Ski Johnson, and Gabrielle Union who also hosted the show.
Proceeds from BET Honors 2013 will benefit Life Pieces to Masterpieces, an organization that provides opportunities for African-American young men in Washington, DC by developing and unlocking their potential, and empowering them to transform their lives and communities.
As always, a large cadre of local and national media were in attendance. Arielle Donce' (Hot 107.9 in Philadelphia), Najah Goldstein (Radio One), Anwaa Kong (www.elitedcmag.com), and Jasmine (http://thejasminebrand.com), were reporting live from the event.
BET Honors 2013 will be televised on February 11, 2013. For more information on BET Honors, visit www.bet.com/bethonors.
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