Grio Awards

The Grio Awards are annual national awards bestowed in a number of categories by TheGrio, an American news website geared toward African Americans. The Grio is a division of the MSNBC cable channel. Begun in 2010, the Grio's list of 100 "History Makers in the Making" honors those who are shaping American's future today; its award winners are selected not only from the African American community, but from all sections of America.
The ten award categories are Business, Health, Education, Science & the Environment, Media, Pop Culture, Arts & Culture, Service & Activism, Politics and Sports, and ten people are selected from each category. To make the Grio 100 list, winners must display a large-scale impact on all of America, and their work must be ongoing. The editorial team at theGrio.com, after consulting contributors and experts, decides the outcome of the awards. The top 100 change every year.

Grio Awards 2022

Gotdon Keith, Humanitarian, Muser and local treasure
Dave Chapelle, comedian, Cultural Icon Award

Grio Awards 2018

Grio Awards 2014

Grio Awards 2013

Charles E. Crutchfield III, M.D., dermatologist
Amar'e Stoudemire, professional basketball player
Terrie M. Williams, advocate for mental health awareness
Carolyn McCaskill, sign language advocate
Anthony McGill and Demarre McGill, classical musicians
Terrence J., TV personality
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, comedy duo
Drs. Vincent and Vance Moss, surgeons
Peter Ramsey, film director
Quvenzhané Wallis, actress
Will Packer, film producer
Franchesca Ramsey, designer, blogger, and comedian
Rick Kittles, scientific director of African Ancestry, Inc.
Ava DuVernay, film director
Kerry Washington, actress
Nick Cave, contemporary artist
Claressa Shields, Olympic boxer
Dr. Nadine Gracia, director of the Office of Minority Health
Gabby Douglas, Olympic gymnast
Ty Hunter, Beyoncé's stylist
Arian Foster, NFL player
Keija Minor, editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Magazine
Dr. Robert J. Gore, doctor and violence prevention advocate
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist
Ken Williams, general manager of the Chicago White Sox
Tripoli Patterson, champion surfer
Dr. Naeemah Ghafur, family medicine physician
Judy Smith, inspiration behind the hit show Scandal
Dr. Kafui Dzirasa, mental health research healer
Solange Knowles, singer
Rob Nabors, Director of Legislative Affairs at the White House
Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston and Dr. Gayle K. Porter, promoters of health among midlife women
Kendrick Lamar, hip-hop artist
Gary Clark Jr., blues artist
Elle Varner, R&B artist
Antron Brown, drag racer
Wendy Williams, daytime TV personality
Taylor Townsend, tennis player
Benjamin Crump, Legal Hand for victims
Madu Eneli, teen author
Drs. James K. Aikins Jr. and Charletta A. Ayers, co-founders of International HealthCare Volunteers, Inc.
Ken Strickland, NBC's Washington, D.C. bureau chief
Jabari Parker, basketball player
Nina Turner, Ohio state senator
Brendon Ayanbadejo, Super Bowl-winning LGBT advocate
Susan Rice, United States National Security Advisor
Robert Griffin III, NFL player
Lia Neal, Olympic swimmer
RZA, Wu-Tang Clan member
Wanda Butts, founder of the Josh Project
Rodney Stearns, iPhone app developer
Aprille Ericsson, engineer
Shaun Evans, owner of OMBO Apps
Ibranhim Abdul-Matin, author of 'Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting The Planet'
Kat Calvin, founder of 'Black Girls Hack'
Lee Saunders, president of the nation's largest labor union
Laura Smalls, fashion designer
William Barber, civil rights leader
Svante Myrick, mayor of Ithaca, New York
Kiante Young, entrepreneur
Nzinga Knight, designer
Anthony Foxx, mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina
Amos Winbush III, musician and tech entrepreneur
Dinaw Mengestu, novelist
Randal Pinkett, Apprentice winner
Dambisa Moyo, economist
Vera Moore, soap opera star and makeup guru
Salaam Coleman Smith, president of NBC Universal's Style network
Mellody Hobson, leader of Ariel Investments
Earl Phalen, CEO and founder of Phalen Leadership Academies and Summer Advantage USA
Oscar L. Harris, businessman and architect
Farrah Gray, book publisher
Sabrina Lamb, author and media commentator
Dylan C. Penningroth, history professor
Susan E. Chapman, SVP of Global Real Estate and Workplace Enablement for American Express
Dorian Warren, Columbia University Scholar-Activist
Tommie Lindsey, teacher
Tambay Obenson, film fanatic
Brittney Exline, Ivy League prodigy
Dean Baquet, managing editor of the Times
Chadwick Boseman, actor
Steven Horsford, Nevada Congressman
Mario Armstrong, co-founder of Urban Videogame Academy
Emi Kolawole, Washington Post blogger
Michael Strahan, former NFL player
Stefanie Brown, National African American Vote director
Gregory Lowe, CEO of Lowekey Media
Barbara R. Arwine, executive director of Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights under Law
Jackie Lacey, Los Angeles County District Attorney
Brittney Griner, basketball player
Swizz Beatz, hip-hop producer
Beverly Bond, founder of Black Girls Rock, Inc.
Valeisha Butterfield Jones, chair of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network
Nerfertiti Martin and Emily Carpenter, gender equality youth activists
Isis King, transgender activist
Robin Roberts, co-host, Good Morning America
Kelvin Doe, teen innovator
Karen Lewis, president, Chicago Teachers Union
Suzanne Shank, president and CEO, Siebert Brandford and Shank

Grio Awards 2012

C.J. Senter, child fitness instructor
Jon 'Bones' Jones, youngest UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in history
Ibtihaj Muhammad, fencer
Justus Williams, youngest black chess master
Chris Broussard, ESPN sports analyst
Yvette Clarke, Representative for New York
Kevin Clash, puppeteer and voice actor
Ryan Speedo Green, opera singer
Angela Benton, founder of Black Web 2.0
Octavia Spencer, actress
Valerie Montgomery Rice, dean of Morehouse School of Medicine
Melissa Harris-Perry, author and political commentator
Maya Rudolph, actress
Elisabeth Omilami, actress and human rights activist
Sonya Arrington, founder of Mothers Against Teen Violence
Marcia Anderson, first black woman to hold major general rank in the U.S. Army
Janet Mock, transgender rights advocate
Frederica Wilson, Representative for Florida
Radcliffe Bailey, artist
Mara Brock Akil, creator of Girlfriends and The Game
Chuck Baker, founder of FileBlaze
Maimah Karmo, breast cancer awareness advocate
George Andrews, founder and CEO of Capitol City Bank & Trust
Alonzo Washington, comic book artist
Andrew 'Bo' Young, III, civil rights leader
Cheryl Mills, counselor and chief of staff, Department of State
Nicole Lyons, car builder and drag racer
Anthony Robles, NCAA wrestling champion
Nigel Sylvester, professional BMX rider
Deanna Sutton, founder of Clutch magazine
Chandra Gill, motivator and educator
Jason Taylor (American football), NFL player
Cam Newton, NFL player
Bryan 'Birdman' Williams, rapper
LaNiyah Bailey, author
Felecia Hatcher, co-founder of gourmet ice cream truck line
Katori Hall, playwright, journalist, and actress
Kevin Olusola, cellist and beatboxer
Alvin Brown, first black mayor of Jacksonville
Jennifer Carroll, Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Kevin Hart, actor and comedian
Tyrone Curry, school custodian and coach
Traci Lester, literacy advocate
Tarell Alvin McCraney, playwright and actor
Tiya Miles, historian and professor
Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks, founders of Black Girls Run!
Nitty Scott, MC
Michael Roberts, businessman
Sandra Tucker, nursing school dean
Tia Norfleet, NASCAR driver hopeful
Bryant Terry, chef
T. J. Holmes, news anchor
Tracee Ellis Ross, actress
Van Jones, social entrepreneur
Afam Onyema, hospital builder
John Hunter, creator of World Peace Games
Nicholas Cobb, philanthropist
Willow Smith, actress and Musician
Nnamdi Asomugha, NFL player
Torrence Boone, Google managing director
Aton Edwards, environmental and social activist
Angella Reid, former White House Chief Usher
DeVon Franklin, movie executive
Chazz Darby, chef
The Holistic Life Foundation Founders, yoga instructors
Garth Fagan, dance choreographer
Roblé Ali, chef
Yvette Miley, vice president and executive editor of MSNBC
Leanna Archer, hair and body care CEO
Anthony Fraiser, start-up entrepreneur
Kevin Lewis, White House Director of black media
Daniell Washington, marine biologist and activist
Corvida Raven, social media entrepreneur
Chinedu Echeruo, founder of HopStop
Patrick Gaspard, executive director of the Democratic National Committee
Jeff Henderson, chef
Jonathon Prince, runner and speaker
Jermaine Griggs, music site founder
Frank Ocean, hip hop artist
Korto Momolu, designer
MC Hammer, rapper
Christopher 'Ludacris' Bridges, rapper
Dhani Jones, former NFL player
Jess Moore, fashionista
Alie Kabba, Sierra Leonean immigrant activist
Jana Johnson, tech analyst
LeVar Burton, actor and Presenter
Doyle Beneby, president and CEO of CPS Energy
Andre 'Dr. Dre' Young, hip hop icon
Ayanna Pressley, first black woman elected to Boston City Council
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, executive at The Nielsen Company
Carol Jenkins, media leader
Brenda Combs, founder of 'Finding My Shoes'

Grio Awards 2011

Che 'RhymeFest' Smith, hip hop artist
Michael Blake, Obama Black Outreach supporter
Tim Scott, senator from South Carolina
Kasim Reed, Atlanta mayor
Cedric Richmond, Representative from Louisiana
Donna Edwards, Representative from Maryland
Erica Williams, social impact strategist
Keith Ellison, Minnesota Congressman
Terri Sewell, Alabama Congresswoman
Wyatt Cenac, comedian
Mark Luckie, digital media specialist
Marve Frazier, social media mogul
Gabi Gregg, MTV personality
Tristan Walker, Foursquare's Business Development VP
Bernal Smith, publisher of the Tri-State Defender
Bill Burton, senior political strategist
Hallerin Hilton Hill, American talk radio host
Lolis Eric Elie, writer and documentary filmmaker
Samantha Fennell, managing director of Cesanamedia/Out There
Tamron Hall, national correspondent for NBC News
Christina Oliver, Marine corporal
Decker Ngongang, senior associate at Echoing Green
Dale Long, Big Brothers Big Sisters advocate
Jawanza Colvin, reverend
Joshua Williams, philanthropist
La'Shanda Holmes, Coast Guard helicopter pilot
Larry Camel, pastor
Shaun King, social media entrepreneur
Terrance Roberts, anti-gang activist
Tracie Washington, attorney
Amiya Alexander, entrepreneur
Bernard Beal, Wall Street mogul
Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green
Don Peebles, real estate king
Jason Few, former president of Reliant Energy
Rosalind Brewer, president and CEO of Sam's Club
John Rice, founder of Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Kenneth Frazier, Merck CEO
Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter
Richard Bennett, president of Fidelis Design & Construction
Chanel Iman, Victoria's Secret Angel
Donald Glover, comedian
Isaiah Mustafa, Old Spice pitchman
J. Cole, rapper
Janelle Monáe, artist
Jay Pharoah, actor and Comedian
Michael Kenneth Williams, actor
Nicki Minaj, hip hop artist
Rihanna, singer
Viola Davis, actress
Aaron Shirley, physician and civil rights activist
Carnell Cooper, doctor
Eugene Sawyer, medical director
Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist
Linda Fondren, mayoral candidate in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Lisa Newman, surgical oncologist
Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
Nia Froome, young entrepreneur
Velma Scantlebury, transplant surgeon
Winston Gandy, doctor and healthcare advocate
Angela Brown, singer
Edwidge Danticat, novelist
Joshua Bennett, slam poet
Kazen Abdullah, classical music conductor
Kenny Leon, theater director
Monica Haslip, art innovator
Robert Battle, choreographer
Sujari Britt, cellist
Tanya Hamilton, filmmaker
Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews, NOLA musician
John Dabiri, biophysicist
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, environmentalist and CEO of Green For All
Adriane Brown, president and COO for Intellectual Ventures
André Fenton, neuroscientist
Bernard Harris, astronaut
Cora Marret, acting director of the National Science Foundation
Donya Douglas, NASA engineer and technologist
Faye Alexander Nelson, president and CEO of Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
Monique Harden, environmental human rights advocate
Njema Frazier, physicist
Cullen Jones, Olympic swimmer
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association
Jason Heyward, baseball player
Kevin Durant, NBA player
Kye Allums, NCAA basketball star
Mariah Stackhouse, golfer
Mattie Larson, Team USA gymnast
Myron Rolle, Rhodes Scholar footballer
Natalie Randolph, football coach
Terry Kennedy, skateboarder
Derrell Bradford, education reformer
Rehema Ellis, reporter
Courtnay Tyus, director of Admissions and Marketing for Charter High School
Dominique Lee, education reformer
Jill Scott R&B star
John Silvanus Wilson Jr., president of Morehouse College
Kittie Weston-Knauer, BMX racer
Robert Bobb, Detroit Education official
Tamica Stubbs, science teacher
Terry Houston, Roosevelt High School principal

Grio Awards 2010

Ursula Burns, chief executive officer of Xerox
Tracy Reese, fashion designer
Jay-Z, musician, rap mogul
Oprah Winfrey, media mogul
Clarence Otis Jr., chief executive officer of Darden Restaurants
Ephren W. Taylor, chief executive officer of City Capital Corporations
Janice Bryant Howroyd, entrepreneur
Ralph Gilles, president and CEO Dodge Brand
Jamail Larkins, chief executive officer of Ascension Aircraft
Carla Harris, managing director in Global Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley
Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General
Will Allen, chief executive officer of Growing Power
Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of American Cancer Society
Kathie-Ann Joseph, surgeon and breast cancer researcher/activist
Lisa Cooper, professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA
Seun Adebiyi, Olympic hopeful
Satira Streeter, clinical psychologist
Treena Livingston Arinzeh, biomedical engineer
Risa Lavisso-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Bakari Sellers, Democratic member of South Carolina House of Representatives
Anthony Woods, former Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in California
Artur Davis, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
Melody Barnes, White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Deval Patrick, Democratic Governor of Massachusetts
Kamala Harris, District Attorney of San Francisco
Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General
Vernon Parker, Republican mayor of Paradise Valley, Arizona
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, mayor of Baltimore, Maryland
Kevin Johnson, mayor of Sacramento
Beyoncé Knowles, singer
Shonda Rimes, executive producer of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
Will.i.am, co-founder of Black Eyed Peas, musician and producer
Drake, rapper
Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor
Gina Prince-Bythewood, film director
Charles King, Hollywood agent
Darius Rucker, musician and country singer; formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish
Mary J. Blige, singer; anti-domestic violence activist
Mo'Nique, actress and comedian
Jason Moran, jazz musician and music historian
Kara Walker, artist
Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point
Bill T. Jones, dancer and director of Broadway's FELA!
Wynton Marsalis, jazz musician
Lynn Nottage, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Kadir Nelson, children's book illustrator
Kehinde Wiley, painter
Darin Atwater, composer/conductor
Jessica Care Moore, poet, actor, publisher
Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator; former space shuttle commander
Tony Hansberry, The Next Doogie Howser, created a breakthrough surgical stitch
Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute
Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
James McLurkin, electrical engineer and robot specialist
Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance
Beverly Wright, head of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Robert Bullard, author and environmentalist
Shelton Johnson, park ranger at Yosemite National Park
Agnes A. Day, associate professor of microbiology at Howard University
Shani Davis, Olympic speed skater
Michael Hill, general manager of the Florida Marlins baseball team
James Stewart Jr., champion motocross driver
Evander Kane, member of the Atlanta Thrashers NHL team
LeBron James, member of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team
Adrian Peterson, member of the Minnesota Vikings NFL team
Allyson Felix, Olympic track and field athlete
Candace Parker, member of the Los Angeles Sparks WNBA basketball team
Serena Williams, professional tennis player
Cheyenne Woods, golfer
Wyclef Jean, musician and philanthropist
Craig Watkins, Dallas District Attorney
Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey
Richard Buery Jr., president and chief executive officer of Children's Aid Society in New York
Alysa Stanton, first female African-American rabbi
Majora Carter, environmental justice advocate
Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell, first African-American female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force
Kari Fulton, national campus campaign coordinator for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative
Yolanda Wimberly, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia
Joshua DuBois, minister and head of the White House Office for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Tyra Banks, model and media entrepreneur
Tyler Perry, producer/director
Christina Norman, chief executive officer of OprahWomensNetwork
Fred Mwangaguhunga, founder of Meditakeout.com
Byron Pitts, correspondent for CBS News' 60 Minutes
Roland Martin, journalist
Steve Harvey Radio host, author
David Drummond, SVP of corporate development and chief legal officer of Google
Mary Spio, co-founder of Gen2MEDIA and digital media expert
Mara Schiavocampo, NBC Nightly News digital correspondent
Teresa King, first female commander at U.S. Army's Drill Sgt. School
Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of University of Maryland; education expert
Spirit Trickey, daughter of one of Little Rock 9, park ranger at Central High School Visitor Center
Barrington Irving, pilot; founder of Experience Aviation
Roland Fryer, professor of economics at Harvard University
Omo Moses, founder and executive director of Young Peoples Project
Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tim King, founder of Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in Chicago
Ashanti Johnson, assistant professor of Chemical Oceanography at College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg, FL
John Jackson, president and CEO of The Schott Foundation for Public Education