Last night, HBO premiered its third installment in a three-part documentary series called The Black List Project at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. The Black List features intimate portrait-interviews with some of today's most accomplished and influential African Americans. The Project not only includes the film series but also a book with portraits taken by photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. The interviews in the film were conducted by Elvis Mitchell.
Among those in attendance were Oscar nominee Lee Daniels, Rev. Al Sharpton, LaTanya Richardson, Faye Wattellton, Majora Carter, and Dr. Michael Lomax.
During the profile of fashion model Beverly Johnson, she discusses how the industry made a big deal about her being the first black model to land the cover of Vogue when at the time she'd already graced the covers of magazines like Glamour numerous times.
She said it infuriated her that it had taken so long for a black model to be accepted by Vogue, but it angered her even more when the media referred to her as the top black model. As she pointed out - she was THE top model at the time - black or white.
Johnson says she overcame the struggles and the challenges of the fashion industry, and life in general by not giving up and simply putting "one foot in front of the other."
Other profiles revealed in Vol 3 include John Legend, Hill Harper, Lee Daniels, Whoopi Goldberg, Debra Lee and Dr. Michael Lomax.
For a closer look into the lives of fashion contributors Patrick Robinson of the Gap, and Sean 'Diddy' Combs visit -The Back List Project.
The half hour show will air nationwide on HBO February 8th at 8:30pm.
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