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ASANTE MEANS “THANK YOU”
Join Nmblc In June For The 2023 Asante Awards Celebrating Our Community Icons
On SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) will host the Eighth Annual Asante Awards which have been a part of the New Mexico Black History Festival since 2015. Asante means “thank you” in Swahili. With this award, NMBLC says thank you to those making great contributions to our communities in New Mexico.
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This year, NMBLC is honoring Black photographers, and spotlighting two dedicated photojournalists: Ronnie Wallace and Adolphe Pierre-Louis. With their talent, cameras, and love, they documented the people, places and things that would otherwise be lost to time and indifference. They’ve served as storytellers, also known as griots, and played a critical role in ensuring that the existence and contributions of African Americans / Black people in New Mexico are remembered.
Ronnie Wallace, editor of The Perspective magazine, is called “Mr. Albuquerque” by those who know him. Like photography giant Gordon Parks, Ronnie’s made it his mission to document the lives and culture of Black people. If something’s happening in the Black community, Ronnie’s there, camera in hand. He’s produced and preserved documents and content for over 40 primarily volunteer-led Black organizations in New Mexico. He’s also written for The Statewide Focus on the state of Black New Mexico.
Recently retired Albuquerque Journal photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis routinely won regional and state journalism contests. One first-place photo captured the aftermath of the shooting during the Oñate statue protest. Another showed the heartbreaking toll of the COVID-19 pandemic through the face of a woman celebrating her 100th birthday behind a window. Adolphe’s commitment to justice is illustrated by his agreement with the state after a frightening incident with a New Mexico State Police officer. As part of his settlement, Adolphe forged a pact to speak to cadets at the police academy on unconscious bias.
The 2023 Asante Awards will kick off with food and drinks. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a stunning photography exhibit featuring the works of Adolphe Pierre-Louis, Ronnie Wallace, and emerging photographers. There will also be interactive exhibits for all ages. The event will close with an awards ceremony honoring Adolphe and Ronnie’s work in the historic preservation of African American life in New Mexico.
Stay tuned for all the details, including time and location, for the Eighth Annual Asante Awards at the NMBLC events page with this QR:
