HABJ 24th Anniversary Gala

Houston was buzzing with some of medias top reporters and journalist at this year’s Houston Association of Black Journalist 24th Anniversary Dinner.

HABJ celebrated nine scholarship winners and four were Texas Southern University students.

Several politicians, including Sheila Jackson Lee, were in attendance.

The night started off with journalist Richelle Carey being honored with the "Emerging Journalist Award."

In Carey's speech she mentioned how proud she was to be surrounded by Houston journalist. (Check out a photo of her heartfelt speech.)

Tony Wyllie was honored with the "HABJ Spirit Award." (Check out a picture of the presentation.)

Wyllie thanked Texas Southern University for pushing him and helping him reach this point of his career.

While accepting his award, Wyllie notes that "You can't be what you can't see."

Ralph Cooper was honored with the "HABJ Lifetime Achievement Award."

Cooper addressed the cut backs in employment within the black journalism community.

During Cooper's speech, scholarship recipient and Texas Southern University communication's student Christina Calloway tweeted "It's an honor to be here at the HABJ Awards among all these greats in the journalism field. They are my inspiration."

Cooper quoted the late Martin Luther King by saying "If you’re gonna be a ditch digger, if you’re gonna be a yard cutter, BE THE BEST."

Roland Martin was the closed the night as he was honored with the "HABJ Pinnacle Award."

Martin spoke on the excellence that Sonny Messiah-Jiles demanded from him as an intern at Houston's CBS news station.

Martin said NABJ has played a major role throughout his entire career, stressed that "Black newspapers are not secondary to other media outlets."

Roland Martin continued to inspire the room full of journalist by saying black journalist need to have confidence in their own skills in order for anyone else to, and to continue that confidence if they don't.

The gala was night of networking, laughs, honor, and fine dining that will most definitely leave Houstonians in anticipation for next year’s!











*CNN's Roland Martin as he interviews with ABC13's Melanie Lawson before the HABJ dinner.




*Professor Serbino Sandifer-Walker and previous mayoral candidate Gene Locke share words at the HABJ event before dinner.








*Journalism student Samii Noel meets Roland Martin at the HABJ event just before everyone is called into the gala.



*Journalism student Latricia London gets a chance to meet Roland Martin at the HABJ event.










***@Hollywood_samii***