Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Lectures

Every year during Black History Month, the Lab hosts the campus-wide Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Lecture Series. We award up to two Black storytellers who have made a difference in the media landscape for that year. Then they visit campus to deliver a talk.

Our inaugural award winners in 2023 were the Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Darnella Frazier, witness for Mr. George Floyd, who earned a Special Citation from the Pulitzer Prizes for her bravery. Our 2024 winner was none other than, Common. This year, we will honor WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

2024

Common packed Bovard — on the rainiest day of the year — and hosted a book signing for his new memoir, And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self. USC Visions & Voices expertly produced this joyous gathering of music and wellness.

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2024

2023

Ms. Hannah-Jones packed the house in Bovard Auditorium, which is USC’s largest theater. She then accepted her award in a private reception that the USC Black Alumni Association graciously sponsored.

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

Photos by: Steve Cohn © 2023

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