DC Black Pride Awards

The DC Black Awards, presented annually, recognize exemplary members and allies of the Black LGBTQ+ community who have demonstrated true dedication to uplifting and advancing the LGBT community. No awards were presented in 2020.

2021 Recipients

Welmore Cook Award: DeMarc A. Hickson PhD
Welmore Cook Award: Angela Brown
Ernest Hopkins Award: Ernest Hopkins
President’s Award: Stephaun Elite Wallace PhD
Curtis L. Etherly Jr. Ally Award: Brian K. Bond
Curtis L. Etherly Jr. Ally Award: Channing Wickham
DC Black Pride Leadership Award: The Alliance Group (T.A.G.)
DC Black Pride Small Business Award: Greg Evans Real Estate Group
Earline Budd Award: Charmaine Eccles
Eleanor Holmes Norton Award: DC Attorney General Karl A.Racine
Alan Sharpe Award: Courtney Baker-Oliver III
Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks Award: Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks
Charlotte Smallwood Volunteer of the Year Award: Jaye Wynn

Awards were presented on Wednesday, July 21 at the 2021 DC Black Pride Awards Reception.

Welmore Cook Award

The Welmore Cook Award is presented annually to two members of the local Black LGBT community for outstanding leadership. Welmore Cook was one of the co-founders of Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day which is now known as DC Black Pride.

DC Black Pride Leadership Award

The DC Black Pride Leadership Award is presented to Black LGBTQ+ community leaders, thirty years old or under, for outstanding leadership.

Ernest Hopkins Award

Establised in 2017, the Unsung Hero Award recognizes two individualswho have worked tirelessly and quietly on behalf of the betterment of the Black LGBTQ+ community. Renamed Ernest Hopkins Award in 2021.

President’s Award

The President’s Award is presented to a member of the community who has done exemplary work in the community over the past year.

Charlotte Smallwood Volunteer of the Year Award

The Charlotte Smallwood Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to the DC Black Pride volunteer of the year. This award is named in honor of longtime DC Black Pride volunteer, Charlotte Smallwood.

Earline Budd Award

Eleanor Holmes Norton Award

DC Black Pride Small Business Award

The DC Black Pride Small Business Award, first awarded 2003, acknowledges the contributions of small business entrepreneurs the DC Black LGBTQ community.

Alan Sharpe Award

Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks Award

The Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks Award, first awarded in 2021, is presented to a faith leader who has provided outstanding spiritual guidance and support to the Black LGBTQ+ DMV community.

Curtis L. Etherly Jr. Ally Award

Ruth Ellis Award

The Ruth Ellis Award, named after long time lesbian activist, is presented to an organization whose leadership, action, creativity and/or service has made a positive impact in the lives of black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the community.

Tina Tealsey Award

Each year, the president of the executive board of Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc. names a fellow board member who has demonstrated outstanding service on behalf of DC Black Pride. This award is named after an exceptional community activist and former BLGPD, Inc. board member.

Person of the Year

The DC Black Pride “Person of Year” is present to person (gay or non-gay) who has worked tirelessly on behalf of our community and is a positive role model who represents those virtues that everyone can aspire to.

National Black Pride Image Award

The National Black Pride Image Award is given to an organization or individual (gay or non-gay) in the creative arts, humanities and/or media that has created positive images of the black gay, lesbian and transgender community.

National DC Black Pride Corporate Award

The National DC Black Pride Corporate Award is presented to a major corporate that has shown to be supportive of the Black LGBT community throughout the United States.