Kamala Harris and Serena Williams Electrify Essence Festival on Day Three.
The 2024 Essence Festival of Culture continues its third day of inspiring events featuring Kamala Harris, Serena Williams, and more.
Celebrating its 30th year, the festival spotlighted these influential Black women as they led discussions on politics, business, and community empowerment. Vice President Harris participated in a “Chief-to-Chief” conversation with Essence Ventures President and CEO Caroline Wanga. During their talk at the Global Black Economic Forum HQ, Harris urged attendees to “unleash their power” in any space they occupy, especially as the Presidential Election approaches.
Presented by Coca-Cola, The Essence Stage offered a full day of panels and engagements with celebrity speakers. Serena Williams spoke at BeautyCon: Essence Edition, sharing her entrepreneurial journey from tennis champion to beauty brand founder. Emayatzy Corinealdi and Morris Chestnut, stars of Hulu’s “Reasonable Doubt,” joined the festivities with an exclusive preview of the show’s second season.
Additionally, Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal, mothers of NBA stars, participated in a conversation with Michelle L. Rice, president of TV One and CLEO TV, discussing how to prepare Black children for greatness. Later, television producer Carlos King shared behind-the-scenes insights on the entertainment industry, joining New Orleans’ own Big Freedia, along with Yandy Smith-Harris and Toya Johnson-Rushing, in a lively and fun-filled discussion.
On the evening of July 6, the inaugural Black Women in Business dinner honored Serena Williams with the Investor of the Year award. This year marked Essence’s first-ever ‘Black Women In…’ event, celebrating trailblazers across various industries. Hosted by Rashida Jones, the event also recognized Thasunda Brown Duckett with the CEO of the Year Award, Esi Eggleston Bracey with the Transformer of the Year Award, and Laysha Ward with the Community Investment Pioneer Award for their outstanding professional contributions.
On the music front, 4batz and newly solo City Girl JT energized the stage at the Essence GU kickback. The night’s highlight was headliner Usher, who delivered a special, one-night-only performance of his entire “Confessions” album. Additionally, Charlie Wilson made a triumphant return to the Essence Stage, marking his 8th performance at the celebrated event.
The day’s events also featured the Suede: Men’s Experience panel, where Lance Gross and Terrance J discussed how their HBCU experiences shaped their acting careers. Another highlight for Black Hollywood included a discussion with Meagan Good, Sanaa Lathan, and writer dream hampton on the current state of the industry.
With additional panels for authors and entrepreneurs, Essence Festival’s Day 3 further solidified its cultural legacy and impact, continuing its jam-packed lineup of esteemed guests.
