Designer B Michael holds Special Oscar presented to Ms. Cicely Tyson
By Audrey J. Bernard
The National Congress of Black Women will honor fashion icon designer B Michael, Co-Founder Creative Director B Michael Global (CFDA member) at their virtual 37th annual awards ceremony Sunday, September 19, 2021.
Michael has had many firsts in his illustrious career but the one he is most proud of and cherishes with all his heart is when he became the first Black American designer in luxury fashion to dress an Oscar recipient in the 91-year history of the Academy awards. Ms. Tyson received an honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards 10th Annual Governors Awards where she looked regal in a silver and black ensemble designed by B Michael. It took 91 years for this to happen and B Michael is grateful to Ms. Cicely Tyson, his friend, for her courage, loyalty, support and integrity.
Michael will be honored along with fellow honorees Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett (lead developer of the Moderna vaccine), Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA), Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO), Congresswoman Marilyn Stickland (WA), Renee Montgomery (VP and Co-Owner of the Atlanta Dream), Latosha Brown (co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund and the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute), Dr. Rebecca S. Pringle (Becky) (President of the National Education Association).
The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984, dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African American women and their families. NCBW also serves as a non-partisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African American women at all levels of government, and to increase African American women’s participation in the educational, political, economic and social arenas. Currently, NCBW provides opportunities for women for leadership and decision-making positions in government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.
The National Congress of Black Women’s mission is to educate youth on the responsibilities of good citizenship and the importance of engaging the political process, while also providing opportunities for internships and other learning experiences at the local, state, national and global levels.
The National Congress of Black Women’s founding chairs were Shirley Chisholm and Dr. C. Delores Tucker. Chisholm was an educator, author, and politician. She became the first African American woman elected in Congress in 1968 and in 1972, became the first African American woman to make a serious bid to run for President of the United States. Tucker was the first African American woman to serve as Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the first African American woman to serve as secretary of a U.S. state government. Other notable NCBW founders include Dr. Dorothy Height and Coretta Scott King. The current chair of the organization is Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
The National Congress of Black Women commissioned Artis Lane to create a bronze bust portraying Sojourner Truth, women’s-right advocate and abolitionist. The bust was unveiled on April 28, 2009, by former First Lady Michelle Obama for permanent display in the Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Centre. Acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson performed Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech. (Photos by Getty Images)
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