Star-Studded Evening at Historic Chaplin Studios on March 1 Celebrated Legacy of Harry Belafonte and Honored Changemakers in Art and Activism

Photo credit: Todd Westphal / Sankofa.org

Artists, activists, cultural leaders, and changemakers gathered Sunday evening, March 1, at the legendary Chaplin Studios for the first Sankofa.org Social Justice Awards — an inspiring and immersive celebration of art, activism, and collective power.

Held on what would have been the 99th birthday of visionary artist and activist Harry Belafonte, the inaugural fundraiser paid tribute to his enduring legacy while honoring contemporary leaders whose work continues to challenge injustice and ignite change.

Innovation was on full display as the evening delivered a dynamic, fully immersive live experience. Guided through wireless headphones, guests enjoyed an intimate and poignant listening session, with music curated by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, hosted by acclaimed journalist Dominique DiPrima and Muhammad, while live performances elevated the energy — making it a truly unforgettable night.

“This night is about honoring legacy and living courage,” said Gina Belafonte, co-founder and president of Sankofa.org. “It’s about artists and organizers, truth-tellers and bridge-builders who have used their voices not for comfort, but for conscience. We cannot afford to surrender to the chaos designed to exhaust and distract us. We must innovate when they stagnate, activate when they attempt to paralyze us, and come together when they try to divide us. We gathered not just in celebration, but to recommit. To each other. To justice. To imagination. To the future we are building together.”

The evening opened with a powerful Sankofa.org film presentation and a stirring choral performance by the Fernando Pullum Choir that set a tone of reverence and resolve. Gina Belafonte delivered opening remarks that underscored the organization’s mission and the urgency of this cultural moment.

“This inaugural Los Angeles fundraiser is a celebration of legacy and marks an important milestone for Sankofa.org,” said Belafonte. “My father believed that artists are the gatekeepers of truth. Our honorees remind us that art doesn’t just reflect the times — it helps change them.”

The program recognized trailblazers across music, visual art, film, and grassroots organizing:

• Actor Danny Glover was on hand to receive an award made by Sophia Victorfor his lifetime of activism and storytelling.
• Contemporary artist Shepard Fairey — whose iconic Barack Obama “Hope” image became a symbol of a generation — was presented with an original award created by Hank Willis Thomas, recognizing his bold fusion of art and political expression.
• Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta was celebrated in a moving tribute led by artist Douglas Miles, honoring her decades of leadership in labor rights and social justice movements.
• Grammy Award-winning hip-hop pioneer Chuck D of Public Enemy participated in an intimate Q&A and tribute presentation before receiving his award for an original piece created by Shepard Fairey, reflecting on the role of hip-hop as a vehicle for truth and transformation.

Audiences were immersed in intimate performances and conversations featuring poet Monique Mitchell, Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Grammy recipient Iman Jordan, Chuck D, and Grammy-nominated artist Aloe Blacc.

Blacc delivered a moving performance and a powerful live set, closing the evening with a rousing rendition of “Not on My Watch” alongside Gina Belafonte and the Fernando Pullum Children’s Choir before accepting the inaugural Passing the Baton Award from actor and activist Jesse Williams and performing an encore of his signature song, “Wake Me Up.”

Notable guests walking the black carpet were producer and activist Maria Cuomo Cole; entrepreneur and political strategist Mark Skidmore; hip-hop artivist Maya Jupiter; filmmaker Maria Belafonte; poet, prison activist, and scholar Bryonn Bain, and others from the worlds of entertainment, organizing, and philanthropy.

On display was Sankofa.org and collaborating partner Made New Foundation’s Virtual Reality Reentry program for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated families. “About 90 to 95 percent of those who are incarcerated will be released,” said Gina Belafonte. “Our goal is to reduce recidivism and assist our returning family with life management skills and a better sense of how to cope with life on the outside, so coming back into society has less trauma triggers that may result in a return to prison.”

Proceeds from the evening will directly support Sankofa.org’s mission to dismantle systemic violence, advance restorative justice initiatives, and champion meaningful reforms for immigration policy and a livable minimum wage.

Founded in 2013 by Harry Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, and Raoul Roach, Sankofa.org continues to educate, motivate, and activate artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change.

As the final notes echoed through Chaplin Studios — where Belafonte initiated the recording of “We Are the World” — the message was clear: The intersection of art and activism remains one of the most powerful forces for transformation.

For more information on upcoming events or to support Sankofa.org’s work, visit Sankofa.org.