The Event Highlighted Black Women’s Cultural Impact with Performances, Tributes, and a Powerful Lineup of Honorees & Benefited Urban Word NYC
New York, NY – The David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center pulsed with vibrant creativity and cultural celebration as it hosted the 8th Annual Black Girl Magic Ball, a dynamic evening honoring the brilliance, resilience, and boundless potential of Black women and girls.
Curated by activist, author, and Lincoln Center Poet-in-Residence Dr. Mahogany L. Browne, this year’s theme, “We Be The Future,” celebrated Black women as visionaries, leaders, and change agents across generations and disciplines.
The event also served as a benefit for Urban Word NYC, the nationally recognized nonprofit empowering youth voices through poetry, leadership development, and critical literacy — home of the prestigious National Youth Poet Laureate Program.
The 2025 Black Girl Magic Ball honored an extraordinary slate of leaders and creatives:
-Nona Hendryx – Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and author
-Sade Lythcott – Chief Executive Officer, National Black Theatre
-Maori Holmes – Filmmaker, curator, and CEO of BlackStar Projects
-Rachel Cargle – Social justice activist, public speaker, and author
-Pascale Sablan – Architect, author, and DEI advocate
-Special Ally Honoree: Jason Reynolds – New York Times best-selling author