Former Senator Tommie Broadwater, Anita Berger, Taylor Thomas, Judge Alexander Williams are among the honorees
By Doni Glover, BMORENews.com
(UPPER MARLBORO – April 27, 2023) – The Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards by BMORENews.com and its partners have been on a roll! Friday night, we were in Harlem with Mr. Walter Edwards, Tasemere Gathers, and the incomparable Victor Pate.
On Wednesday night, honorees in Upper Marlboro included Prince George’s County’s first Black state Senator, the legendary Tommie Broadwater. The elder statesman is such a beautiful example of what power looks like. And we have the one and only Dr. Wilbert Wilson for making this happen.
And we certainly cannot forget Former Federal Judge Alexander Williams. These men are the true giants in our community who deserve all of the love we have. They stood in the gap and watched our backs.
Their mission today is to push and encourage us to vote, to be politically active, and to understand that politics without economics equals nothing. We have to keep our eyes on the ball – that is, the laws that are put in place. They want us to know that we have the power to change our destiny.
Delegate Darryl Barnes, the former Maryland Black Caucus Chair, was recognized – as was Laurel City Councilman Martin Mitchell. Mitchell hosts a weekly show on our sister station, BlackUSA.News.
Anita Berger was recognized for her work as an educator in the DMV. Berger is the very proud Principal of Benjamin Banneker High School.
And then, Sisters4Sisters Network, Inc. (S4SN) brought out more of the most powerful women in the region. S4SN’s own Charlene Day was honored. She encouraged the crowd in show-stopping form, as always. So did Taylor Thomas. And Dr. Laura Dorsey … she is such a force. She has helped pull together over $31 million in scholarships.
For the uninitiated, these business awards and the associated networking events were designed to celebrate Black entrepreneurs and professionals as well as the people who support them regardless of race.
According to Joshua Manns, owner of Joe Manns Awards/Legacy Awards, over 2,500 individuals have been recognized since 2011.
We have hosted awards across New York City, Baltimore, Gorgeous Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, Washington D.C., Richmond, Atlanta, New Orleans, Birmingham, Las Vegas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Our aim is to help preserve little-known Black Wall Street history nationally and to help inspire entrepreneurship, beginning in the Black community.
Honorees included:
Dr. Wilbert Wilson
Councilman Martin Mitchell
Alexis Taylor
Ken Rochon
Al Hagler
Former Federal Judge Alexander Williams
Former State Senator Tommie Broadwater
Nita Berger
Alvin Biagas
Larry Freelow
Perry Hugee
Julie Rodgers
Dr. Laura Dorsey
Taylor Thomas
Dwayne Sims
Delegate Darryl Barnes
John Smith
Charlene Day
James Page