Black media, politics, and glamour converged at Byron Allen’s Washington D.C. Gala

Luminaries from media, politics, and entertainment had "A Seat at the Table" to celebrate Gayle King as Byron Allen presented the second annual Washington D.C. Gala.

theGrio Lifestyle

Apr 30, 2023

For those in the know, “Nerd Prom” is the moniker given to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, the event that brought together faces from across media, politics, and entertainment on Saturday, April 29, in Washington, D.C. Similarly, the evening’s hottest afterparty, Byron Allen Presents the Washington, D.C. Gala, also has a nickname; now in its second year, we at theGrio fondly call the star-studded event “A Seat at the Table.”

Byron Allen Presents the Washington D.C. Gala, White House Correspondents Dinner, Gayle King, A Seat at the Table, Black journalists, Black politicians, Byron Allen, Allen Media Group, theGrio.com — Gayle King and Byron Allen attend as TheGrio Celebrate Gayle King at the Washington D.C. Gala after The White House Correspondents Dinner at the National Museum Of African American History & Culture on April 29, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo: Allen Johnson)

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Journalists at theGrio reflect on Black media ahead of Byron Allen’s Washington D.C. gala

One look at the event’s step-and-repeat should explain why. Wearing their gala finery, Black luminaries from all sectors joined theGrio family at the National Museum of African American History and Culture to celebrate journalist Gayle King’s incredible career and ongoing impact. Correspondents’ Dinner host comedian Roy Wood, Jr. pulled a second shift as host of the filled-to-capacity event, where the red carpet was set alight by several of the most influential and dynamic Black thought leaders of our time, from veteran politician activist Rep. Bobby Rush to “1619 Project” creator Nikole Hannah-Jones. As always, theGrio was on hand to capture all the evening’s glamour; see our glamorous guests in our gallery below.

Byron Allen and Gayle King

Byron Allen presents Gayle King with the Journalist Icon Award at “Byron Allen Presents the Washington, D.C. Gala” at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2023. (Photo: Allen Johnson)

Of course, before the afterparty, there was the party itself at the Washington Hilton. This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner was also a fashion-filled affair, as guests took a rare opportunity to eschew office-appropriate attire for an array of evening gowns and tuxes. What familiar faces graced the event’s red carpet this year? See for yourself in our gallery below.

Winnie Harlow

Model Winnie Harlow arrives for the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

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