The Black Excellence Brunch held an installment of their iconic event on Sunday, July 2, 2023, in partnership with Hallmark Mahogany and Crown Royal during the ESSENCE Festival weekend. The brunch was held at the beautiful and scenic Riverview Room’s rooftop in the French Quarters overlooking the Mississippi River. The Black Excellence Brunch honored the iconic award-winning actress, Sheryl Lee Ralph with an award and a beautiful portrait painted by Andrea Mckenzie. The Black Excellence Brunch is one of the most anticipated and exclusive brunches during the Festival weekend that brings together an inspiring room of entertainers, celebrities, executives, influencers, creatives, and impactful professionals from all walks of life.
The brunch combined the Hollywood flair and New Orleans culture to celebrate actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and paid homage to Hip Hop 50 by acknowledging rapper YoYo with an award. The private brunch included a second-line band, majorettes, music, amazing vibes, Crown Royal mimosas bar, photo activations, thematic cocktails, delicious Southern brunch, and an electrifying fireside chat led by The Black Excellence Brunch founder, Trell Thomas with honoree, Emmy award-winning actress, Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Attendees included some of Hollywood’s brightest stars KJ Smith, Skyh Black, Lexi Underwood, Richard Lawson, Tobias Truvillion, and others.
The event series is based on the family tradition of “Sunday Dinner”. It is an event series that brings together millennials of color from all industries and professions in an effort to build real community over what can be considered the favorite millennial pastime, “brunch.”
The Black Excellence Brunch founder led a fireside chat with honoree, Sheryl Lee Ralph. The inspiring conversation took guests on a journey through pivotal career moments and the importance of amplifying Black voices in the industry at all times. Actress and singer, Sheryl Lee Ralph, has starred in countless memorable roles such as ‘Moesha’, ‘Dream Girls’, and her Emmy award-winning role in the hit tv series, ‘Abbott Elementary.’
“Sheryl Lee Ralph is a national treasure and she deserves every flower. I’m so glad we got to honor her during the ESSENCE Festival, a place that puts emphasis on celebrating Black Women. She is a legendary Black woman and we couldn’t be in a place like ESSENCE and not make space to celebrate her and all of her excellence, says Black Excellence founder, Trell Thomas.”
As guests arrived at the Black Excellence Brunch they were greeted with a branded Black Excellence Brunch handkerchief to enjoy the second line band along with a Crown Royal signature cocktail. Guests also enjoyed an inspirational moment and a brief acapella rap performance from Hip Hop legend, YoYo. Afterward guests continued to enjoy dancing, networking, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old friends.
“My favorite part of the brunch was seeing people love on one another fully and genuinely. I also loved when hip-hop icon and Black Excellence Brunch honoree Yo-Yo gave us rap bars during her award acceptance speech. It was a moment!” said Trell Thomas.
Founded by Trell Thomas, the Black Excellence Brunch is an empowering event series established to connect young people of color from all walks of life. While being a South Carolina native, Thomas modeled the event after his childhood in the South to embody the tradition of Sunday Dinners.
For more information about The Black Excellence Brunch, please visit here.
Photo Credit: Kai Byrd
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