PART IV: HONORING THE ELDERS

Illustration by Alyssa Etoile.

Illustration by Alyssa Etoile.

Oprah’s Legends Ball honors visible black women, who have made a splash or some impact on culture, but who have not been acknowledged. That mission is so beautiful. The idea that there would be a bunch of veterans, like, sitting around—it’s so culturally black! That’s the first part that’s so important: That’s normal for black folk, and for Africans, for whom the line between audience and performer is way more blurry. What is beautiful about this video, is that it’s such a great representation of that spontaneity. And musically it is crazy. Patti LaBelle throwing her program in the air?! It’s too much, it’s incredible! It’s the all-stars of all-stars!