Second Annual Imagenation 2006 Revolution Awards

The misty streets of Harlem were stained with muddy water, but the rainy weather did not stop music and film fans from convening at the world famous Apollo Theater for the Second Annual Imagenation 2006 Revolution Awards. The event which was held on June 2, 2006 was created to recognize artists and industry leaders of color who use their work as vehicles for social change.

"This event is also an Imagenation kick-off fundraiser for the opening of the Harlem's first, and nation's only black film cinema," advised Moikgantsi Kgama Executive Director and Founder of the Imagenation Organization. The projected 19,000 square foot cinema will house a restaurant, café, three movie screens and an editing facility located inside Harlem's anticipated Kalahari Condominium Complex.

Imagenation is a Harlem-based non-profit organization established to counteract negative images and stereotypes that are propagated about people of color through mass media.

Hosted by fashion editor Michaela Angela Davis and M-1 of the progressive hip hop band dead prez, the benefit concert and award ceremony honored Producer-director Lee Daniels, Producer Warrington Hudlin, Director Thomas Allen Harris, Director-writer Keith Beauchamp and hip hop band dead prez.

As we all know, music and film go hand-in-hand therefore; in between each presented honoree, there were featured dynamic performances from Imani Izuri, dead prez, Martin Luther, Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber, and Kameko featuring Narock, a new artist from Erykah Badu's record label, Control Freaq Records.

The night was filled with positive affirmations by hosts, honorees and presenters. Hostess Michaela Angela Davis inspired the audience by stating, "Imagenation is here not only to award recipients, but to inspire us all to work through economic and personal adversities. They seem to make obstacles between us and our dreams, but the reality is we can ignite our own personal revolution by committing ourselves to solidarity through out the African Diaspora.

We are honoring the achievements of these individuals, but next year the honorees could be you." Her words left the audience with a sense of warmth and attachment to the community that the entire Imagenation organization seems to convey.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed this event. It's good to see people creating a platform for positive roles in media," said Elwood Hill an audience member who works in the city development field.

Photographer and audience member Maleek Wright added, "I commend Gregory Gates (Executive Producer for Imagenation) and Moikgantsi Kgama for being able to organize an event of this magnitude."

While accepting his award, Honoree Keith Beauchamp stated, "I never thought in a million years I would have a voice."

Clearly, Beauchamp's initial thoughts were wrong because he is the director and writer of the compelling documentary The Untold Story of Emmett Till. The powerful documentary influenced the U.S. Justice Department to re-open the Emmett Till case. When asked how he was handling the experience and success of the documentary, he advised, "This was a 10-year project, I met with Emmett's mother for eight years before she passed, but this is only the tip of the iceberg."

Beauchamp has two projects currently in the works, a feature film on his life told through contemporary eyes and a documentary of the mysterious lynching and murders of the past.

Executive Director of Imagenation, Moikgantsi Kgama; Councilman Charles Barron; musician Vernon Reid; and Hip Hop mogul, Damon Dash presented the honorees and had nothing but admiration and kind words to share. While presenting Lee Daniels, Damon Dash sang nothing but praises by describing Daniels as a man who does not stop, always does smart things, does things his way, and does love his culture. "That's what I love about him," Dash stated.

Honoree Lee Daniels, producer of The Woodsmen and Monster's Ball and director of the forthcoming Shadowboxer, accepted his award with words of thankfulness and admiration.

"This is what I'm about. Keeping it real and keeping it in Harlem is what I try to do." Daniels is the first African American to receive an Academy Award. In 2004, he was asked by former President Bill Clinton to create public service announcements to inspire young people of color to vote.

Film pioneer Warrington Hudlin, the producer of the popular feature films House Party, Boomerang and Bebe's Kids, accepted his award acknowledging his presenter Moikgantsi Kgama. "Moikgantsi is continuing the struggle by creating a Black movie cinema right here in Harlem," he stated as the crowd applauded. Hudlin is also the president of the Black Filmmaker Foundation, an organization that fosters audience development and provides financial assistance to black filmmakers. Hudlin has also won a Cable ACE Award and a Clarence Muse Award in past years.

Thomas Allen Harris director of the award-winning film The Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela and That's My Face graciously accepted his award and almost instantaneously stated, "Nelson Mandela has been out of jail for nearly 16 years." That statement sent the audience into a raving applause. Harris is an award-winning filmmaker and cultural activist whose documentary films have been featured in venues across the international landscape on television, at festivals, museums, and galleries.

Stic.man, the other half of dead prez, received his award with great admiration, "I appreciate the award but I do not take it with any particular ego. I think building the theater for the community is important…on our own screen in our own hood. We accept this award for the hood and people fighting to make a difference."

M-1 of dead prez cosigned Stic.man's comments by adding, "On the shoulders of my ancestors. I just want to say it's not about the lights, the camera, the action. It's really bigger than Hip Hop. I am proud to make the music, but it's such a small contribution. You have to get organized. I have to get organized. We have to get organized," he beckons to the audience members.

Dead prez has a Starz InBlack original documentary concert film dead prez: It's Bigger than Hip-Hop, which will premiere on Starz InBlack Friday, June 9 at 10 pm ET. The one-hour program includes intimate interviews with dead prez members M-1 and Stic.man, who share their thoughts on such topics as world politics, urban poverty, black pride, healthy living and the power of black women.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the opening of the Imagenation Soul Cinema, which will be Harlem's first independent art house cinema and the nation's only cinema dedicated to films from the African Diaspora, scheduled to open later this year. Imagenation plans to create a chain of independent black cinemas across the nation.
To send donations or for more information please visit: www.imagenation.us