ESSENCE And Tyler Perry Honor Outstanding Accomplishments In Cinema With A Special Celebration Of Black Men In Hollywood

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ESSENCE, the number one media brand aimed at African-American women, today unveiled plans to join forces with award-winning producer, director, actor, writer, and philanthropist Tyler Perry on February 26, 2014 for Black Men in Hollywood, a remarkable celebration during OSCAR® week.  The event will salute the exceptional work of breakthrough and trailblazing performers and visionaries who contributed to the industry's most heralded films.

"Throughout the year, ESSENCE has chronicled the multitude of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments in the pages of the magazine and on Essence.com," commented ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Vanessa K. Bush.  "To be invited by our friend Tyler Perry to partner in this intimate celebration of Black cinema during OSCAR® week is especially significant, as we salute some of the most powerful, authentic and multi-dimensional images we've seen on screen—images that serve to inspire our young men of color."

The intimate celebration will also spotlight The California Endowment's influential Sons & Brothers (#sonsandbrothers) campaign, which acknowledges those stand-out achievers who are vital role models for young men of color.

Black Men in Hollywood will precede ESSENCE's annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, which returns to the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 27, 2014 to recognize the incredible triumphs of trailblazing women in film and television. The event will honor three of the year's most impactful and inspiring talents, both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes, with the esteemed Black Women in Hollywood Award: 2014 Academy Award® nominated actor Lupita Nyong'o (Best Breakthrough Performance); Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (Trailblazer Award) and award-winning director/writer Ava DuVernay (Visionary Award).  In recognition of the 50^th Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the event will also pay tribute to legendary performers who were Champions of the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Maya Angelou, Diahann Carroll, Nichelle Nichols, Jim Brown, Denise Nicholas and Clarence Williams III, among others.

Stay tuned to Essence.com for highlights and behind-the-scenes access to ESSENCE Black Men in Hollywood and ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood.  Follow us on Twitter @essencemag #EssenceRedCarpet.  Join in the discussion on Facebook.

About Essence Communications Inc.:
Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online.  The company's flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the ESSENCE Festival, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music, Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series, the ESSENCE Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 43 years, ESSENCE, which has a brand reach of 11.5 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information and specific solutions relating to every area of African-American women's lives.  Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com.

About The California Endowment Sons & Brothers:
The California Endowment is a philanthropic foundation that invests in the health and well-being of communities across California. Sons & Brothers (#sonsandbrothers) supports young men of color in living up to their full potential.  Our sons and brothers will become tomorrow's doctors, teachers, and movie industry leaders.  An investment in them is an investment in us.  Additional information is available at www.sonsandbrothers.us.

SOURCE ESSENCE Magazine