Star-studded Evening to Include: Tyra Banks, Diahann Carroll, Don Cheadle, Ava DuVernay, Louis Gossett Jr., Terrence Howard, Quincy Jones, Keegan-Michael Key, Regina King, Tyler Perry, Wesley Snipes, and Keenen Ivory Wayans
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 – The Paley Center for Media, the leading nonprofit cultural institution that showcases the importance and impact of media on our society, today announced that its Hollywood Tribute to African-American Achievements in Television, presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co., will take place on Monday, October 26 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Tyra Banks, Diahann Carroll, Don Cheadle, Ava DuVernay, Louis Gossett Jr., Terrence Howard, Quincy Jones, Keegan-Michael Key, Regina King, Tyler Perry, Wesley Snipes, and Keenen Ivory Wayans are among the growing roster of icons and influential industry pioneers slated to attend to honor notable contributions made by African-Americans in a wide array of television genres: drama, comedy, news/talk, sports, and music–across seven decades.
The Paley Center’s Hollywood Tribute to African-American Achievements in Television will present critically acclaimed programs of historical importance, pay homage to creative visionaries–producers, writers, and directors from the Hollywood community–and feature iconic Hollywood talent across generations, recognizing legacy stars and today’s biggest names. A special highlight of the evening will include a salute to Black Entertainment Television’s (BET) 35th anniversary. The event also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the role of television as a pivotal platform for addressing important issues, breaking down barriers, and creating social change.
“The Paley Center for Media’s Hollywood Tribute to African-American Achievements in Television reflects Paley’s overall mission to shine a light on the pivotal role media plays in shaping our society and culture,” said Maureen J. Reidy, President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “We’re so thrilled to have tremendous support from Paley’s Tribute Committee, Presenting Sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the contributors and talent that are helping us lead the conversation about the significant achievements made by African-Americans in television over the last seventy years.”
This momentous occasion marks the Paley Center’s second major event showcasing African-American Achievements in Television as part of an ongoing commitment to preserving, exploring, and interpreting this material through its extensive Paley Archive and programs encompassing public, industry, international, and education outreach. The Paley Archive is the nation’s largest publicly accessible archive of television, radio, and new media programming from over seventy countries, spanning almost one hundred years. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Paley Center’s programs and its ongoing efforts to expand and preserve the Archive, which includes an African-American collection.