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It was the love in the room that was most remarked on as the community gathered to celebrate the recipients of the 2010 Ellie Charles Artist Awards at the Con Edison Auditorium in Manhattan on Friday evening. The ceremony, produced by African Voices Communications, honored four people who are stellar examples of excellence and dedication in their fields: theater icon Woodie King Jr., legendary alto saxophonist Sonny Fortune, the Amsterdam News' own shining scholar, journalist and author Herb Boyd, and pioneering activist Betty Dopson.
Each honoree received the beautiful Ellie Award, sculpted by traditional African priest Suncadm Bey, who, each year, handcrafts a slightly different set of awards based on the beautiful original design.
The evening opened with a cocktail reception featuring a performance by the lovely young songstress Atiyya, whose soulful delivery and progressive lyrics set the perfect tone. In attendance were such people as Nana Camille Yarbrough, Novella Nelson, Dr. Brenda Greene and many other bright lights and contributors. Mistress of ceremonies Flo Wiley launched the magical evening as Dr. Bernard Charles remembered his late wife Eleanor in the presence of her beloved family.
Ellie Charles was the...