We Need Another Oprah's Legend Ball

2021 Should Be The Year Of Legends

History of the Legends Ball

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In 2006, Americans were treated to a television special that gave us a behind the scenes look at Oprah's 2005 three day celebration. The event was conceptualized after Oprah Winfrey (no bio or introduction needed) forgot to invite the iconic Ms. Cicely Tyson to her birthday party. Ms. Winfrey figured it would be remiss of her to invite Ms. Tyson and not invite her friend Ruby Dee, thus the celebration planning began.

The Legends ball began on a Friday afternoon with a luncheon. The Legends were honored by a group of "Young'uns," with the Young'uns paying tribute to the legends with a poem titled "We Speak Your Name," written by Pearl Cleage. By the end of the lunch there were tears, and tear drop diamonds gifted.

The following evening Oprah hosted a white-tie gala full of dignitaries and notable guests.

The weekend concluded on that Sunday with an all star Gospel brunch.

The Legends

Oprah handpicked the twenty-five Legends that were honored during the weekend long celebration. They ranged from poets to dancers to social right activists, and prominent entertainers. The women also ranged in age from 57-96 years old.

Maya Angelou, poet

Shirley Caesar, Gospel singer

Diahann Carroll, actress

Elizabeth Catlett, American-Mexican graphic artist

Ruby Dee, actress and playwright

Katherine Dunham, dancer

Roberta Flack, singer

Aretha Franklin, singer and songwriter

Nikki Giovanni, poet

Dorothy Height, activist

Lena Horne, entertainer

Coretta Scott King, activist and author

Gladys Knight, singer and songwriter

Patti LaBelle, singer and songwriter

Toni Morrison, novelist

Rosa Parks, activist

Leontyne Price, soprano singer

Della Reese, actress, and ordained minister

Diana Ross, singer and actress

Naomi Sims, model

Tina Turner, singer, songwriter, and actress

Cicely Tyson, actress and former model

Alice Walker, novelist and writer

Dionne Warwick, singer

Nancy Wilson, singer and actress

The Young'Uns

TO celebrate the Legends, there were a group of Young'Uns. These women were celebrated younger celebrities.

Yolanda Adams, Gospel singer

Debbie Allen, actress, director, choreographer, and producer

Ashanti, actress, singer, songwriter, and record producer

Tyra Banks, television personality, model, producer, actress, and writer

Angela Bassett, actress, director, and producer

Kathleen Battle, operatic singer

Halle Berry, actress

Mary J. Blige, singer, songwriter, and actress

Brandy, singer, songwriter, and actress

Naomi Campbell, model and actress

Mariah Carey, singer, songwriter, and actress

Natalie Cole, singer, songwriter, and actress

Kimberley Elise, actress

Missy Elliott, producer, rapper/singer, and songwriter

Pam Grier, actress

Iman, fashion model and entrepreneur

Janet Jackson, singer, songwriter, and actress

Judith Jamison, dancer and choreographer

Beverly Johnson, model and actress

Alicia Keys, singer, songwriter and pianist

Chaka Khan, singer, songwriter, and musician

Darnell Martin, director, producer, and screenwriter

Audra McDonald, actress and singer

Terry McMillian, actress

Melba Moore, singer and actress

Michelle Obama, attorney, author, and former First Lady of the United States

Suzan-Lori Parks, novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and musician

Phylicia Rashad, actress, director, and singer

Valerie Simpson, singer and songwriter

Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright, and professor

Susan L. Taylor, editor and journalist

Alfre Woodard, actress and producer

Transition

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Of the original twenty-five Legends, fifteen have passed away. There were thirty-two Young'Uns, and sadly one (Natalie Cole) has passed away.

Of the remaining Young'Uns, nineteen are in the age range of the original legends. We should definitely give all of the women that attended the original Legends Ball their flowers, and honor them as Super Legends along with a few new women of power.

New Legends

Yolanda Adams, Debbie Allen, Angela Bassett, Kathleen Battle, Pam Grier, Iman, Judith Jamison, Beverly Johnson, Chaka Khan, Darnell Martin, Terry McMillian, Melba Moore, Michelle Obama, Suzan Lori Parks, Phylicia Rashad, Valerie Simpson, Anna Deavere Smith, Susan Taylor, and Alfre Woodard would be regarded as Super Legends among a small group of new additions.

Whoopi Goldberg, actress, comedian, and author

Sheila Johnson, first African-American woman to net one billion dollars

Loretta Lynch, Former Attorney General of the United States

Maxine Waters, politician

Wendy Williams, media personality and author

New Young'Uns

Stacey Abrams, politician, lawyer, and author

Keisha Lance Bottoms lawyer and politician

Beyonce Knowles-Carter, singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer

Ruth E. Carter, costume designer

Misty Copeland, ballet dancer

Viola Davis, actress and producer

Ava DuVernay, filmmaker

Carla Hall, chef and television personality

Tamron Hall, broadcast journalist

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States

HER, singer, songwriter, and musician

Taraji Henson, actress

Regina King, actress and director

Issa Rae, actress, producer and writer

Shonda Rhimes, producer and screenwriter

Tracee Ellis-Ross, actress, director, producer, and singer

Yara Shahidi, actress and producer

Lena Waithe, actress, producer, and screenwriter

Dr. Jackie Walters, Obstetrician-gynecologist, television personality, and author

Porsha Williams, television personality and activist

Changes from the 2005 Event

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In addition to a few fresh faces, the new event would call for a new event designer and poet.

2005's event was designed by Colin Cowie, and the new event should be designed by celebrity event planner, Kathy Romero.

Coming off the excitement of the inauguration Amanda Gorman should be commissioned to write a new poem for the Young'Uns to recite.

All event attendants would have to quarantine before the ball, and social distancing guidelines would be adhered to throughout the celebration.

Let's Celebrate!

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So Many Legends!

In the comments share your thoughts on potential new Legends and Young'uns!