Khalilah Jones and Sarad Davenport, Best In Black Cville Hosts (Brian Dunn Photography, LLC)

by Khalilah Jones

The 2024 Best in Black Cville award ceremony was truly a night to remember. Held at the Live Arts theater, this was not just any event—it was the official kickoff to this year’s Soul of Cville Festival, and we went all out to curate a vibe reminiscent of the NAACP Image Awards. We’re talking red carpets, stylish backdrops, and giveaways that made everyone feel like a VIP. And let’s not forget the food—because, really, what’s a celebration without wings, mac & cheese, and dessert shooters?

The signature drink of the evening, the “Best in Blackberry Bliss” mocktail, had folks buzzing. And for those looking to add a little extra spice to the night, well, a splash of vodka did the trick! The drink was just one example of how we infused a little fun into every detail.

Our dynamic duo of hosts, Sarad Davenport CEO of Vinegar Hill Magazine and Khalilah Jones Co-Founder of Soul Of Cville, kept the evening lively, mixing humor with heartfelt moments. The performances were nothing short of spectacular. Musical guest Lady Taij, a 2024 Best In Black award recipient, graced us with her soulful voice, while Dr. Ro’s spoken word performance left us inspired and reflective. Then, Elite Empire took the stage and—no exaggeration—brought the house down with a dance performance that had everyone on the edge of their seat.

Daniel Fairley has his say about Black Excellence (Brian Dunn Photography, LLC)

The night also featured the Soul Of Cville Black Excellence Youth Fashion Show, where the next generation of style icons strutted their stuff with confidence and flair. Daniel Fairley took the mic and delivered a powerful message on Black excellence, reminding us all why we were there—to uplift, celebrate, and honor the best in our community.

Honoring Mel’s Cafe (Brian Dunn Photography, LLC)

We also took a moment to right a wrong from the pandemic era. The 2020 Best in Black Cville award recipients finally got their time in the spotlight—better late than never, right? And of course, the 2024 recipients joined them on stage, accepting their well-deserved accolades with grace and pride. Special recognition goes to Symora Pendleton, the 2024 recipient of the Let’s Intentionally Thrive (L.I.T.) scholarship. Her dedication and drive are truly inspiring.

LINK to the EVENT Photo Gallery

Between the awards, the performances, and the delicious food, we managed to sneak in some fun with door prizes and a group “ussie” from the stage. And let me tell you—the audience looked “goodt” with a capital “T!” We had Brian Dunn (the 2024 official Soul of Cville Photographer), Zoey, Brooke, and Christopher Early capturing all the red carpet moments, ensuring everyone had the opportunity for some Insta-worthy photos.

The free dessert bar, courtesy of Confections By Christmas, was the sweet cherry on top of an already amazing night! Guests enjoyed cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, rice krispy treats, cake pops and more. DC Cuisines and Soul of the City, were vendors on site offering premier level entrées, such as salmon sliders, green beans with smoked turkey, fish, chicken kabobs, greens, and more —if you left hungry, that’s on you!

Now, as much as we’d love to say everything was perfect (and it was pretty close), we did have one little wish: we would’ve loved for even more people to join us. The event sold out, and the waiting list was longer than the dessert bar. What we learned is that our community is hungry (pun intended) for events like this—a platform to amplify our voices, celebrate our achievements, and uplift one another.

Best In Black Cville intermission  (Brian Dunn Photography, LLC)

Next year, we’re planning to go even bigger and better, and we hope you’ll be there to experience it with us. If you were in attendance this year, we’d love to hear what your favorite part was. Personally, I was all about the Made Weddings and Events 360 photo booth. I might’ve gone through it two or three times…but who’s counting?

Best In Black C-Ville Exclusive Sponsors

Before I wrap up, I have to give a huge shoutout to our exclusive sponsors: the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and UVA Health Diversity and Community Engagement. Your support made this event possible at the level we dreamed of, and we’re so grateful.

Here’s to Black excellence, community celebration, and a bright future ahead. See you next year!