(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK – Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) announced that honorees for this year’s Triumph Awards will include 13-time Grammy Award-winner Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, MSNBC host Ari Melber, A Wonder Media Company CEO Chelsea Maddox-Dorsey, and Sound of Victory Choir Founder and Director Vincent Bohanan. This year’s ceremony is slated to take place on Monday, October 6th.
“The Triumph Awards has been an opportunity for NAN to recognize those who are brave enough to use their channels to fight for justice across the globe,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN.
“More than ever, we need to recognize those with the courage to use those platforms to speak up against the challenges before America right now, as the right to vote, DEI, and many other hard-won rights are under attack. Babyface, Ari, Chelsea, and Vincent embody the spirit of the Triumph Awards, and this will be an opportunity to activate NAN at this moment.”
Held every fall, the Triumph Awards recognize entertainment, media, community, and clergy leaders who use their platforms to elevate the fight for civil rights and social justice. Past Triumph Awards honorees have included icons such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Tyler Perry, Angela Basset, Quest Love, Leslie Odom Jr., Queen Latifah, Spike Lee, Gladys Knight and Robert De Niro.
This year’s ceremony comes just weeks after Rev. Sharpton led the March on Wall Street in commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington. NAN gathered thousands from all over the country to the doorstep of Corporate America to call on companies to preserve their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The peaceful demonstration urged continued investment in Black and Brown America after corporations collectively pledged billions of dollars to the policies no more than five years ago. Rev. Sharpton and NAN’s 2025 honorees are being recognized for their steadfast efforts in standing up for civil rights.
Also in recent news, Sharpton strongly condemned the shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah which whipped up a firestorm of political debate over the past week.
“Any form of physical violence is deplorable, especially today’s brazen attack on Charlie Kirk. We can disagree, we can debate, but we can never, ever resort to violence or try to take one’s life. Just as I condemned last summer’s attempt on Donald Trump’s life, I categorically condemn today’s shooting. I pray for him and for our political climate to cool for us to demonstrate and debate free of physical threats.”
The National Action Network noted that the shooting underscores the urgent need to reject violence in all forms and protect the democratic right to free speech and debate.
The organization has consistently spoken out against political violence, regardless of ideology, and reiterated its commitment to nonviolence.
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
