The Grio Awards are annual national awards bestowed in a number of categories by TheGrio (theGrio.com), 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 2023
Grio Awards 2022
Dave Chappelle, comedian, Cultural Icon Award
Grio Awards 2021
Grio Awards 2020
Grio Awards 2019
Grio Awards 2018
Grio Awards 2017
Grio Awards 2016
Grio Awards 2015
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