Since its inception in 1993, the Ebony Harlem Awards of Excellence celebrate the excellence and achievement of Black students, staff and faculty at North Carolina State University. This special program recognizes students, faculty and staff who reflect and represent leadership, dedication and talent. 

We acknowledge that while celebration may show up differently this year, it is still imperative. More than ever, it is crucial that we highlight the ways our community of scholars, researchers, activists, organizers, helpers and freedom seekers have impacted our community as a whole. 

The African American Cultural Center requests a simple but big action from our community. Nominate yourself and your community for the Ebony Harlem Awards. 

The act of nominating is revolutionary. To nominate oneself is to recognize that you are worthy of celebration and honor. To nominate another is to decenter the self and reject the capitalistic notion of there can only be one honor. This instead recognizes and uplifts the fact that the work we do cannot be held in silos, but rather our work is meant to captivate and uphold community. 

Nominations are open today through March 23, 2021, at 5 p.m. Community voting will take place March 29 through April 7, 2021, at 5 p.m.

• See go.ncsu.edu/ebonyharlem for more information

The 2021 Ebony Harlem Awards of Excellence will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021.

angela gay-audre is director of the African American Cultural Center.