On May 13, the Lincoln Center in New York City came alive as Black women and girls from across generations gathered for the eighth annual Black Girl Magic Ball that took place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The powerful celebration honored visionary leaders, cultural trailblazers, and creative pioneers, spotlighting the brilliance, resilience, and influence of Black womanhood through the lens of the arts, social justice, music and so much more.
Founded by poet, author, and activist Dr. Mahogany L. Browne, this year’s Black Girl Magic Ball not only celebrated the strength and ingenuity of Black female excellence, but it also served as a powerful act of giving. The event doubled as a fundraiser for Urban Word NYC, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying youth voices through critical literacy and leadership development, with proceeds supporting community-driven organizations shaping a brighter future for Black youth.
Source: Dr. Mahogany L. Browne
The evening radiated elegance, energy, and unapologetic joy—from heartfelt tributes and inspiring speeches to dynamic performances by Shyvonne, Brooklyn’s AbunDance Dance Company, and NYC Youth Poet Laureate Kai Giovanni. Guests engaged with interactive installations by Good Mirrors and Le’ Grand Fleur, while DJ Pinkyy kept the energy high. The celebration wrapped with a joyful, high-spirited line dance, as everyone quite literally put their boots on the ground in a powerful display of unity and Black joy.
While chatting with MadameNoire for an exclusive interview before the event, Dr. Browne flashed a look of amazement as she reflected on how far Black Girl Magic Ball has grown since its inception—all stemming from her critically acclaimed 2013 poem-turned-illustrated book titled Black Girl Magic.
“Black Girl Magic was in conversation with the lineage of Black women poets that made it possible for us to be here: Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni and Jayne Cortez,” Browne explained of her vision of the ball. “I wanted to do a book release [at the time] that was less about the I and more about the we, and Black Girl Magic Ball was just this one-time event in my head. I thought it would be a great way to have a book release, have Black girls just show up and be celebrated for being themselves and examine what does it mean to look at other Black women in the community doing that work and highlight their efforts. And I said, ‘Oh, let’s give awards out too!’ One dream—now we’re going into our eighth year.”
Meet the powerful group of honorees.
Source: The Black Girl Magic Ball
The theme for this year’s Black Girl Magic Ball, “We Be the Future,” was a powerful affirmation of Black existence and imagination. In a time when the current political climate can feel hostile or dismissive toward Black lives, Browne said it’s critical now, more than ever, to build safe spaces where Black women and girls know that they not only belong, but are vital to the future.
Citing literary giants like Octavia Butler and Zora Neale Hurston, she pointed to the long-standing tradition of Black writers who envisioned futures where Black lives thrive, and thus year’s honorees embodied the true power of Black Girl Magic, demonstrating how it can inspire lasting, meaningful change across communities near and far.
Grammy-nominated singer Nona Hendryx, award-winning architect Pascale Sablan, and writer and philanthropist Rachel Cargle were among those celebrated for their fearless commitment to shaping brighter futures in their respective industries.
“The awardees are folks that I have come across in my journey, and I bore witness to their philanthropy, to their institution making, to their Black joy, to their Black resistance and to their Black integrity,” Dr. Browne explained. “Because of that, I have a vested interest in just them receiving their flowers while they are here to smell them.”
Dr. Browne developed a deep bond with Sablan during their time together at Pratt Institute, later witnessing firsthand the extraordinary power of her Black Girl Magic in action. Today, Pascale serves as the CEO of Adjaye Associates’ New York studio, where she leads a dynamic portfolio of international cultural, civic, and commercial projects. As the 315th living African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, Pascale exemplifies excellence, innovation, and sustainability in every facet of her work.
Beyond her architectural achievements, Pascale is a committed activist striving to eliminate disparities in the profession. She is the founder of Beyond the Built Environment, a platform that uplifts women and BIPOC designers, and currently serves as the Global President of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Her leadership marks a historic milestone as only the fifth woman to hold this position in the organization’s 52-year history.
Dr. Browne also shared that she has been collaborating with the legendary Hendryx on a project for the National Black Theatre. Long before their professional partnership began, she was deeply inspired by Hendryx’s artistry and activism. A founding member of the iconic group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, Hendryx has long channeled the spirit of bold, socially conscious singer-songwriters like Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell, using her powerful, genre-defying voice to speak on love, politics, and justice.
Hendryx’s illustrious career spans more than six decades, defined by constant reinvention and fearless creativity. Inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame in 1999, she has released eight solo albums and collaborated with an impressive roster of artists including Prince, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Bono, and Cameo, earning both critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination.
“I’m able to write about the future because Nona Hendryx taught us it was possible. She taught us about the motherboard and Afrofuturism,” Dr. Browne gushed.
Black Girl Magic uplifts us all.
Being in the company of Black greatness has also uplifted Dr. Browne when she felt as though her own Black Girl Magic was being dimmed. The poet was at the center of controversy in 2024 when both her books, Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice and Woke Baby, were banned from various schools across the country due to their themes of social justice, Black empowerment, and activism.
“I think the book banning was really painful, more so because folks, they congratulate you, and they’re like, ‘Oh, that means your book is selling out,’ and it is great. It does mean that your book is doing something, but at the cost of your life, at the cost of your humanity, at the cost of you feeling safe. Those were moments, really painful moments to experience, to witness, to live through, to remember.”
Dr. Browne found a renewed sense of hope when Councilmember Darius Gregory, alongside a group of parents in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, united to have Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justiceplaced back on the shelves of Martin Elementary School. The move came in response to an attempt by a parent to have the book removed from the school library without providing any justification, according to NBC News.
“I was so delighted, right? I said, ‘Oh, these parents ain’t playing.’ Because that’s what happened. It took the parents standing in front of that for me to say, okay, thank goodness. Like, somebody got me right?” the poet shared. “So, for those parents to come out and say absolutely not and to stand against it and fight them off, that gave me the blueprint. I just need parents to stand up for these books [because] the people who put it on the list didn’t even read it. That’s the other thing I learned. It was put on the banned list without being read.”
This turning point hasn’t deterred her path to greatness. Instead, it has ignited a deeper sense of purpose and responsibility to uplift Black women and girls for generations to come. For Dr. Browne, Black Girl Magic has evolved into more than a poem, an annual celebration, or a slogan; it’s a lifelong commitment.
“To incite such nasty behavior from folks who just have an issue with you loving yourself, you seeing yourself in this day in age–I realized the power of just reclaiming joy, the power of just seeing yourself in spaces that if not, try to erase, definitely try to diminish, your worth.”
The impact is undeniable. Dr. Browne shared that she was moved to tears watching a 7-year-old girl recite Black Girl Magic during an oratory competition, feeling a deep sense of relief and pride knowing that her words and work have held meaning and power for the young student, and hopefully, for generations to come.
“That’s when I knew [I was] a part of the fabric of our being, for real. I was alive to see it. That’s the soul of this. It started as a homage, and now it has become a mantra for all Black girls,” Dr. Browne added.
