PHOTOS: Rod McCullom
The 2011 Esteem Awards were held in Chicago over Black Pride Weekend. The event was the fifth annual celebration sponsored by PrideIndex.com.
This year's honorees included Emil Wilbekin, playwright Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Chicago's Howard Brown Health Center CEO Jamal Edwards, HIV/AIDS educator and prevention leader Curtis Lipscomb, author and photographer Michael-Christopher, filmmaker Mary Morten, transgender activists Monica Roberts and Joy Morris, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell and many others. Rod 2.0 was honored in 2008.
"I created the Esteem Awards as my own special way to honor individuals and organizations in the African American and LGBT community," Esteem Awards founder Philip Esteem tells R20.
It was a beautiful ceremony. Such a pleasure to spend time with so many inspiring people. The ceremony includes performances by poet Yolo Akili and Love the Poet.
Some images from the event are HERE.
very nice award ceremony, so thoughtful to recognize local and national talent. thanks phillip esteem!
very nice photos and great to finally meet you Rod! So handsome and studly lol.
and how about the Jamal Edwards!!
Posted by: M Mark | 09 July 2011 at 21:32
It was definitely an honor to receive my 2010 Esteem Award. Wish I could have been in Chicago to pick it up.
Posted by: Monica Roberts | 25 July 2011 at 18:42