Groundbreaking photojournalist Bill Jones will receive the Historian Award at the upcoming Black Business Association’s (BBA) 45th anniversary year dinner and salute to African American History Month Feb. 28 at the L.A. Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. In celebration of this year’s theme, the gala will honor decades of contributions made by African American history makers such as Jones and other businesses, institutions, organizations and individuals all under the event theme: “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.”
In 1978, celebrity African American freelance photographer Jones became the first Black photojournalist to receive an invitation from the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences to cover its ceremony as an official member of the press. It was a breakthrough moment.
Over the course of his 50-year career, Jones has become one of the most published photojournalists in the nation and has photographed countless African American entertainers, athletes, political figures, social activists and entrepreneurs. His images provide the public with a rare look into the lives of some of the country’s most influential people. Many of these photographs are part of Jones’ book, “Hollywood in Black: 40 years of Photographs by Bill Jones.”
In addition to Jones, the BBA’S 45th anniversary dinner will honor the contributions of: Rev. James Lawson with a Lifetime Achievement Award; the Los Angeles Sentinel with the Institution Pioneer Award; 27th Street Bakery with a Business Pioneer Award; Consolidated Board of Realtist of Southern California with the Organization Pioneer Award; and Former Los Angeles City Councilman, journalist and original freedom rider, Robert Farrell with the Freedom Rider Award. Additional honorees will be announced at the gala.
“For the past 45 years the BBA has served as an ally for Black entrepreneurs who not only followed in the footsteps of those pioneers but blazed new trails for coming generations. On this night, we are honored to recognize the achievements of businesses and individuals who rightfully take their place in the annals of African American history as empowering contributors to our economic and cultural development,” notes Earl “Skip” Cooper, the BBA’s president/CEO.
”The honorees have demonstrated a commitment and understanding of how working toward the economic interest of building a better community is what makes African American History and their place in it, significant,” he added.
For tax-deductible ticket information on the BBA 45th Anniversary Year Dinner, visit www.BBALA.org or call (323) 291-9334.
