This year’s gala theme, “Doll Test”, is inspired from the 1947 photos taken by Gordon Parks from the trailblazing experiment in the United States.
Annually bringing together the world of entertainment, film, music, business, and philanthropy, the night has honored many change-makers: Angela Davis, Amy Sherald, Clara Wu Tsai, Crystal McCrary, and Raymond McGuire. Kate Clark Harris was also an honoree for the evening, sharing a speech, to recognize both of her parents, Kenneth and Mamie Clark, whose experiment, Doll Test, that changed the course of segregational history in the United States.
Swizz Beatz, co-chair of the gala, and Peter W. Kunhardt Jr., executive director of the foundation, served as hosts for the evening, raising nearly $2 million for the foundation. “What a spectacular and inspiring evening celebrating the power of art to advance social justice and bring about change,” said Kunhardt.
In attendance were fashion designer Dapper Dan, screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil, 2017 Gordan Parks Fellow Devin Allen, Walter Mosley, actor C.J. Wallace, painter Amy Sherald, and actress Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut. Other notable guests included Joey Bada$$, Marcus Samuelsson, Spike Lee, Black Thought, Renee Cox, former and new Gordan Parks Foundation fellows, and many others.
The event also featured a moving performance by Anthony Morgan’s Inspirational Choir of Harlem and a live auction of some of Gordan’s iconic photography, including Doll Test by Hugh Hildesley.
Be sure to check out our on-the-scene interviews with the night’s attendees linked above!
