By: Kizzy Cox
Photo Credit: Darrell T. Hazelwood
On Thursday May 16, 2024, the NYABJ featured a panel and screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary “CROWN”, produced by club members Kizzy Cox and Sarah Kazadi-Ndoye, who served as creator, director and senior producer on the project.
The CBS Sports film tells the story of Black hair through the athletes that have rocked their crowns throughout history and the fight to do so without discrimination. “CROWN” covers it all: press and curl to the Jheri curl, the afro to the corn row; locs, flat tops, braids, fades and everything in between!
Efforts to pass the Crown Act, which would prohibit race-based hair discrimination serve as a backdrop. The bill has stalled twice in the Senate, first in 2020 and again in 2022 but was re-introduced by Democratic lawmakers in May 2024.
In honor of these efforts and the film's Emmy nomination, Kazadi-Ndoye and Cox’s alma mater - the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY - hosted the screening and panel which included the two alumni along with Aziza Shuler.
Shuler is an Emmy Award-winning weekend anchor and reporter for CBS News Philadelphia, who made headlines for her bold decision to appear on-air with her naturally bald head due to alopecia.
Attendees enjoyed pizza, popcorn and candy while watching the history behind iconic Black hair moments. Afterward, they and the panelists discussed the film and related themes such as the power of showing up authentically at work and advocating to tell stories about the Black community in newsrooms that may be less than supportive.
"For this to be honestly the Blackest thing I've ever done and for it to be nominated for an Emmy award is incredible,” Kazadi-Ndoye said about the significance of the story’s nomination despite the subject matter.
Cox echoed the sentiment in an Instagram post writing, "It’s incredibly affirming and exciting to be Emmy-nominated for this project."
As NYABJ continues to be a vital resource for Black journalists during a very tumultuous period in the industry, the event was an important reminder that the work we do matters and the stories we tell are worth fighting for.
Copy Editor: Breanna Robinson
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