EBONY

Whether it's 89 followers or 20 MILLION... never lose sight of who you are! 👏🏾 At the 2026 #EBONYPower100 Gala, Keith Lee took a moment to thank his younger self for never compromising who he was, delivering a POWERFUL reminder that success may change your circumstances, but it should never change your character. Because as Keith said, “What you do with a little is what you do with a lot.” And there's POWER in staying grounded through it all. 🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

Who said you have to wait your turn to make a statement?! Generation NEXT is leaving their mark RIGHT NOW! 🔥 The 2026 #EBONYPower100 Generation Next honorees stepped onto the red carpet with confidence, individuality and style that spoke for itself! These young trailblazers are showing that true POWER isn't something you have to wait for... it's something you create on your own terms. Here's to our young stars dreaming BIG, showing UP and shining BRIGHT! Let's give them their flowers in the comments! 💐🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

When you put THIS much Black excellence in one room... you can't expect the culture NOT to have something to say! 👀👏🏾 The 2026 #EBONYPower100 Gala brought together the people behind the music, stories and moments we've grown to love. From the red carpet to the heartfelt speeches, it was a night to give our people their flowers, celebrate their impact, and show how much love the culture has for its own. 🖤 Tap to explore more on EBONY.com: bit.ly/4jaEVSh #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

The ladies weren't the ONLY ones making a statement on the carpet... the FELLAS had something to say too! 👏🏾🔥 The suits were CLEAN, the details were SHARP and the swag was on FULL display! The men of the 2026 #EBONYPower100 Gala let their personal style do the talking... bringing their own flavor, confidence and POWER to the carpet! Now we KNOW somebody caught your eye! Who had the FLYEST fit of the night? Sound off below! 👇🏾🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

Can we get an AMEN for a good time?! 😂🔥 @kirkfranklin and Artists in Residence honoree @msdebbieallen were cutting UP to Kirk's hit single “This Time” at the 2026 #EBONYPower100... and they didn't miss a BEAT! The music, the moves, and Black joy on full display... now THAT'S the POWER of celebrating our own. And prepare to be SICK of us... because we're taking this mood into next week and BEYOND! 🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

145 years later, Mississippi sends a Black senator to Washington! 👏🏾 @scott_colom has become Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since 1881, nearly a week after 2018 #EBONYPower100 honoree @KeishaBottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. In a state where generations fought to make Black voices heard, Colom's victory carries the weight of history and the POWER of a vote that can change it. Let's show Senator-Elect Colom love in the comments below! 🖤

EBONY remembers Irma P. Hall, a beloved actress, educator and poet whose extraordinary talent and undeniable heart made her a treasured figure across the culture. Best known as Josephine "Big Mama" Joseph in ‘Soul Food,’ Hall made Sunday dinners, tough love and hard-earned wisdom feel like home, capturing the spirit of the women who hold our families together and giving Black cinema one of its most iconic matriarchs. Born in Beaumont, Texas, and raised in Chicago, Hall graduated from Texas College in 1956 before beginning a career that would touch lives far beyond the screen. From her years as an educator to her award-winning performances in 'A Family Thing' and 'The Ladykillers,' she understood the POWER of using storytelling to educate, connect and uplift others. Her legacy will live on through the characters she brought to life, the stories she shaped and the generations who will always feel at home around Big Mama's table. Rest in peace, Irma P. Hall. 🖤

POWER brought the ladies to the carpet. The GLAM kept us talking long after the night was over! 👏🏾✨ From gorgeous gowns to flawless beauty, the women of the 2026 #EBONYPower100 Gala served POWER from every angle. The hair, makeup and styling? The timeline was taking NOTES! We have our favorites, but we want to hear YOURS! Who really had the carpet on LOCK?! 👀🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape

We started POWER with prayer and ended with at party as #EBONYPower100 as Music Innovator TI leaves the audience on their feet after an evening celebrating black excellence in a way only EBONY can! 🖤

Music moves the culture and #EBONYPower100 Music Innovators honoree Adam Blackstone is no stranger to the POWER of music! It’s time for the culture to decide. Who do you want to see honored as a #MusicInnovator next year? 🎶🖤

Power is personal, and Darrell Spencer has his own perspective on what it truly means. 🖤 At the 2026 EBONY Power 100, Spencer shares his definition of power and reflects on what it means to him. ✨ #EBONYPower100

True power is using the platform you've been given to open doors for others. The woman behind #EBONYPower100 and EBONY’s CEO Eden Bridgemansklenar shares what power means to her as she reflects on the importance of using the gifts and opportunities God has given us to make a way for others. An answer that embodies “moving black forward!” 🖤 #EBONYPower100 #TheStoriesWeShape