Black Men Crowned awards show honors 13 Memphians for third year
The Black Men Crowned Awards will return for its third year on Thursday, Dec. 14, showing off the accomplishments of 13 Black men in the Memphis area.
Whitehaven native and producer Justin Hart started the event in 2021 as a way to spotlight the achievements of Black men in particular, something he said often goes unrecognized.
“I want to find a way to change the narrative of how Black men have been viewed in the media by creating a space that celebrates the many amazing accomplishments they have executed within Memphis,” Hart said. “It’s extremely important to create a space for Black men to feel celebrated just so these young people in Memphis can have the opportunity to look up to someone that looks just like them.”
Both the categories and their winners were selected by an anonymous committee of Memphians. Some of the award categories this year include the Humanitarian award, Coach of the Year, and Young King, offered to a graduating senior with a 3.00 GPA aspiring to go to college. It’s the award Hart is most excited for.
“I’m really happy about this young man, his name is DJ Allen. [His award] gives these young people the opportunity to see that we do have young people that want to do positive things in the community, creating some change in the community,” he said. “I like that he’s really becoming a voice of the young people in Memphis, so I’m excited to be able to celebrate him.”
Alongside Allen, the event will honor 12 other men across various fields and industries: Ekundayo Bandele, executive director of Hattiloo Theatre; Henry E. Reaves III, owner and founder of Reaves Law Firm; Dr. Tony Robinson, director of pharmacy at Delta Specialty Hospital; Tyree Daniels, managing director at Southstate Duncanwilliams; Lernard and Bernard
Chambers Jr., owners of The Genre restaurant; Alton Cryer, STS Enterprise vice president; Jeremy Calhoun, STS Enterprise president; Michael Scruggs, motivational speaker; Keshaun Pearson, Memphis Community Against Pollution executive director; Dr. Fred Peete, owner of chiropractic practice R.E.D. Chiro; Raheem Shabazz, independent strength coach.
This year, the event will be hosted by iheartmedia radio personality Stan Bell, alongside award-winning actress and native Memphian Elise Neal. The sold-out event will once again be held downtown at The Kent, 61 Keel Avenue. The red carpet kicks off at 6 p.m., with the awards ceremony starting at 7 p.m.
Ultimately, Hart wants the event to become a nationally televised show, and with Black Men Crowned receiving national recognition on the Kelly Clarkson Show earlier this year, he said the group is on the right track. Hart said the event helps normalize the accomplishments of Black men in America, and will remain important for years to come.
“You think about our nation… and the negative depiction when it comes to the idea of what it means to be a black man in today’s climate,” he said. “I think we’re so quick to report on the negative stigma that’s attached to being a Black man rather than focusing on the positive aspect of what Black men have brought to this country. So it’s imperative to have a platform like this to bring some sort of normalization to celebrating Black men… and being able to change that narrative.”
Jacob Wilt is a news reporter for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com