Umunna Legal Group hosted the third edition of the “Ken Knight Awards” to tribute and honor black men and women in all areas of media in Jacksonville. The evening bought together journalists, anchors, reporters, on-air personalities, producers, influencers, sales and marketing professionals. The celebration of Black History is an opportunity for our community to celebrate our trailblazers and our current and future leaders.
The namesake of the awards, Ken Knight is credited with starting a movement in which African Americans asked for more of their music and announcements to be aired. Mr. Knight initiated training programs to prepare other African Americans for careers in broadcasting and originated the Ken Knight Show which was the first African American television show in Jacksonville. This year’s award was hosted Ken Knight Award recipient Dawn Lopez and was held inside the Jesse DuPont Center.
“Black media and its journalists are an integral part to telling black stories correctly,” said Obi Umunna. ‘It is up to us to tell our story and celebrate the vision,” he said.
This year’s recipients are: Lawrence Jacobs (posthumous), First Black news anchor at WJXT – Channel 4, Sylvia Perry, Current Publisher and Daughter of Rita Perry, Founder of the Jacksonville Free Press, Shelton Hull, Folio Weekly, Everette “Easy E” Eason, 93.3 The Beat Jamz WJBT FM, Deborah McDuffie, First Woman Composer/Producer in the Advertising Industry, Rob Sweeting WJXT Channel 4 anchor since 1985, media maven Angela Spears, First Coast News and Bo Harris, Action News Jax.
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