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Queen Latifah is one of the first ladies to use her platform to demand respect and unity in the male-dominated hip hop community. The Girls Trip star is a pioneer, a hip-hop icon who has opened doors for women, and for her leadership, she will be honored with the 2018 Marian Anderson Award, PhillyTrib reports.
On Nov. 20 at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, the Newark, N.J, native will be recognized for her plethora of achievements, Philly Mayor Jim Kenney announced at a recent press conference at Sofitel Philadelphia.
“We are pleased to honor Queen Latifah with the 2018 Marian Anderson Award,” Kenney said at the press conference. “She has been a pioneer for women in the music, film and the broader entertainment industry, and exemplifies Marian’s spirit and message of empowerment.”
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All Hail the Queen
Dana Owens, her birth name, has been a trailblazer for year; racking up more than 2 million in record sales for her `994 hit U.N.I.T.Y, which also won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. Latifah also made history in 2006, when she became the first hip-hop artist honored with a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Latifah’s achievements extend beyond the musical realm as well. The multi-faceted entertainer is a well-respected actress who has won an Emmy, SAG and N.A.A.C.P Image Awards for her critically-acclaimed body of work. Her notable role as Matron Mama Morton in “Chicago,” earned her an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress alone.
Latifah is also a philanthropist and co-chair for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation Inc., a foundation named in honor of her late brother, which was founded by her late mother Rita Owens. The foundation gives scholarships to financially needy students who soar in academics.
Latifah will become the youngest recipient of the prestigious award in November during its the 20th Anniversary Gala and Concert.
“The Marian Anderson Award has become an impressive cultural hallmark of the Philadelphia arts community since we created it 20 years ago,” said award founder Gov. Ed Rendell.
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“Its distinguished honorees, coupled with its extensive support for young artists, add greatly to Philadelphia’s national reputation as a place where the arts are respected and encouraged.””
“Marian Anderson herself paved the way for artists who today perform at the Kimmel Center in her native Philadelphia,” added Ed Cambron, executive vice president of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
“We are thrilled to not only be hosting this award for its 20th anniversary, but also that this year’s honoree, Queen Latifah, has such a heart for education and community engagement, two initiatives at the center of our mission as an institution in Philadelphia.”
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