Chicago’s Black Excellence Awards

On November 14, 2022, an annual event took place that highlights Black entrepreneurs and those with a creative affinity working in the field of arts. The event, Chicago’s Black Excellence Awards, is held by the African American Arts Alliance (AAAA) which honors “outstanding artists and arts organizations in the categories of music, film, literature, theater, dance, visual arts, and technology/digital media”.

Why is this event so momentous? What does it mean for Chicago’s Black community? And, the world’s? Read on to find out. 

The event itself was held at the culturally significant Chicago Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, a 20-million dollar building that opened in 2011 thanks to the efforts of Jackie Taylor, award-winning director, producer, actress, and founder of the Black Ensemble Theater. The theater showcases Black talent within the community (https://blackensembletheater.org/). 

Throughout the year the AAAA’s Black Excellence committee, which is “made up of art lovers within the Chicago community,” identifies “outstanding African American individuals and organizations working in the arts.” This year boasted 55 nominees from all categories. Several of the nominees create works based on their studies and what they’ve learned about Africa, the motherland. But, that’s not all. 

The organization and the people within the organization have a far-reaching vision that impacts the Black arts community worldwide. 

We had the opportunity to interview the newly-elected Board President of the AAAA. The AAAA’s mission is “to increase interaction, communication and development of African American arts organizations and individuals while delivering programs that increase their visibility, marketability, stability, and sustainability.” The new Board President-elect, Charlique C. Rolle (Executive Director of Congo Square Theatre), is a young, passionate Black woman from the Bahamas looking to support the Alliance in becoming a pillar for Chicago’s  Black artists. 

What was your inspiration to join AAAA?

I am driven to elevate Black stories and serve our community. I love that the Alliance seeks to create a space where Black artists and organizations are celebrated, elevated, and can be viable across sectors and genres. I love that this is a community that represents the beautiful diversity of how our stories are being told across art forms. 

I first became involved with the Alliance in 2020, when I facilitated the launch of our Black United Series. This series creates a space for Black artists to gather in one space together to share resources and provide visibility for individual artists to connect with Black companies and directors across the city. It provides workshops, opportunities for artists to converse with others about how to kickstart their careers, internships, jobs, and artists can even audition with multiple different companies at once through the organization. We first started with Theatre and have since added Dance. Each year we plan to add a component specific for each genre represented through the Alliance.

What’s your overall goal as President?

First of all, I want to ensure that the legacy of this incredible institution is preserved. This is the first Leadership transition in 25 years. Jackie Taylor, Chuck Smith, and all of our founders and elders have laid an incredible foundation. I’m excited to partner with our Executive Director—Jacqueline Williams, our VP-elect—Vershawn Sanders-Ward, our Board, and our members to ensure that the organization becomes a hub for Black artists and organizations to have the resources they need to thrive as artists but also in their basic human needs. This includes healthcare, financial, legal support, funding, etc. Everything they’d need to access to strengthen their work. We have to build things to be long standing. 

Is this an international movement?

Currently, we are just focusing on Chicago artists. We want to hone in on Chicago because there’s so much love and soul in Chicago and there are specific needs for Chicago artists that we want to address and support. However, with the rise of digital programming, the reach of the Alliance in past years has enabled us to reach many nationally and internationally. 

Do people within the organization or those seeking its resources often travel to Africa to study?

Yes. Many of the leaders of member organizations have recently or are currently on their own pilgrimage journeys  or engaging in cross-cultural projects to learn, study, and integrate the roots of the Motherland into their current study and artistic practice. Vershawn Sanders-Ward, the founder of Red Clay Dance Co. and VP-elect of our board, recently engaged in a multi-year cross-cultural project with Keiga Dance Company from Uganda. Muntu Dance Theatre, whose mission is “to preserve and perpetuate the African aesthetic and its influence on world cultures” is currently preparing for a cultural exchange trip to Senegal to do a deep dive into the culture and traditions that greatly influences their work. These are just a few examples, but there are many others who continue to travel to study, preserve, and integrate the rich history into their work.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m just really excited for the season to come and to deepen our work with the community. 

It is organizations like these that not only empower the Black community, but also help point people in the direction of the Cradle of Civilization and the wealth of knowledge, arts, and resources our Ancestors have left us. Best of luck to AAAA and all its endeavors. 

Winners

Literature

Non-Fiction - Dawn Turner Trice, Three Girls From Bronzeville

Fiction - Rashaan Lewis, Forgotten Heir

Children’s Literature - Evan L. Robert, Share, Share, Share

Digital Media

Jewel Ifeguni, How We Got Here

Dance

Overall Performance - Praise Production, Nine

Choreographer - Joel Hall, Four Women

Theater

Actress - Liberty Clay, Living It All Alone, The Phyllis Hyman Musical (Theater 47)

Actor - Anthony Irons, What To Send Up When It Goes Down (Congo Square Theater)

Music 

Jazz - Ava Logan

R&B - Brandon James

Visual Arts

Exhibition - Southside Community Art Center, Emergence

Artist - Breaux Brandon, BIG WORDS

Theater

Special Recognition - Felicia Fields, Pearl’s Rollin With The Blues (Writer’s Theater)

Director - Daniel Bryant & Erica Ratcliff - What To Send Up When It Goes Down (Congo Square Theater)

Production - The Phyllis Hyman Musical, Living All Alone (Theater 47)