Say good morning, Magic Wednesdays. How we feeling? No, y'all can do better than that. South Peace, how we feeling? That's what I like to hear. Okay, 'cause we're heating things up. That's why you're hot, okay? 'Cause we're heating it up. That's what we do. Once again, welcome to Magic Wednesdays. I am Big Jagger with Magic 102.3 VJ in the midday. Y'all give it up for DJ Face, my Magic family. And of course, we want to send an incredible thank you to our sponsor, the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment. Much love to my Radio One family, my entire Radio One family that's here, my TV One family, all of our incredible media partners who have covered this historical event. We thank you for being here. Thank you to the DC Lottery. You got to play to win now. And of course, all of our amazing vendors, everyone working behind the scenes to make this special celebration possible. Now, it is my true honor right now to introduce a woman who continues to champion the arts, entertainment, and creative community here in the District. She is doing big things here in Ward 8 as well. I want you to please help me welcome the director of the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment, my friend, LaToya Foster.
Good evening Magic Wednesdays. Good evening Ward 8. Good evening DC. Thank you Vic for that beautiful introduction and what an honor it is to be here. What an honor it is to be here tonight celebrating the legend, the icon, the pioneer, and the media mogul, Ms. Cathy Hughes. Who I affectionately refer to as Mama Hughes. I want to start off by thanking our Mayor Muriel Bowser. Mayor Bowser, there aren't enough thanks for your ongoing commitment to our city and your commitment to celebrating the people who make our city Washington DC the greatest city in the world and for honoring our legend Cathy Hughes today with the city's highest honor, the key to the city. Ms. Hughes, when you started out you stood on the cusp of doubters and dreamers. And you have accomplished what many never thought possible. And especially for women, but even more so black women, you showed us that there are no limits to what we can build, what we can own, and how far we can go. And for me, this one is personal because I remember my days, my very early days in media, when I started at WOL where information is power. I got what Mayor Bowser would say, my fair shot. It was my first shot in media. I had the opportunity to produce a weekly round table radio show called Live at 5:00, and it is because of that show I can stand here today. I was in my very early 20s. I was young, ambitious, and finding my way, and Cathy Hughes gave me my fair shot. And over the years, I've had the privilege of watching Cathy Hughes grow this vision along with her son Alfred Liggins, and growing their impact that reaches generations. But through all the success, Cathy Hughes never stopped opening doors. She never stopped creating opportunities, and she never stopped making room for others. So, tonight I simply want to say thank you. Thank you, Cathy Hughes, for what you did for me, for what you did for countless others, giving us an opportunity because you opened the door. So, Cathy Hughes, we love you, we celebrate you, and this honor is so richly deserved. Congratulations. And now coming to the stage is another woman who's had a tremendous impact from the legend Cathy Hughes. And I'm speaking of none other, y'all better know this sister right here, Michelle Rice, the president of TV1.
All right. Good afternoon. Good evening. So, Viola Davis once said that the only thing that separates women and people of color from anything and from anybody else is opportunity. Access to opportunity is the only line we must cross to transcend beyond the limitations that are put on us by ourselves and others. And Ms. Hughes, you have crossed that line time and time again while bringing others along. How many rooms have you been the first and the only one? In how many doors were shut? How many times did you hear no? And how many times did you have to bring a folding chair when they did not give you a seat at the table? Mrs. Hughes, you have crossed many lines to become the first black woman to lead a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. She built the table. You said to me many times that we cannot wait for other people to do what we must do for ourselves and for our communities. And we certainly cannot allow anyone else to tell our stories and to get our stories right. That is what we do every day at Urban One. Urban One is for us and by us. How fitting on today that you receive a key to the city where it all began with a single radio station over 45 years ago. The place where you crossed the line, broke barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and unlocked opportunities for so many. Because of you, so many of us here today have crossed that line from dreaming to becoming. Thank you for manifesting your dreams and crossing that line and allowing us to be a part of your story. I'm so grateful for your mentorship and for your sponsorship. May you continue your journey because we will always need your beckoning light as our founder. For up ahead, there are still many more lines for us to cross. Congratulations, Ms. Hughes, and may God continue to bless you abundantly. Coming next up to the stage is our city's forever first lady. She doesn't really need an introduction, y'all. Give a round of applause for Cora Masters Barry.
I love y'all. It's too hard to make a speech. We don't make a speech when you know somebody from the inside out. And I want to say to all of those people who are not listening, you're missing out on an opportunity. I've known Cathy Hughes forever. She has been a strong supporter of Washington, D.C., which is why it's appropriate for her to get this. But, I have to say, she was an amazing supporter of who? Our mayor for life, who? Our mayor for life, who? Give her a hand for that. There's a lot that I can say, but I just want to tell you one story. October 14th, Cathy Hughes, Radio One, did a salute to Marion Barry across the country. He was in that studio all day talking to people from all over the country. I came that evening, and as we walked out, I said to Marion, 'You just attended your own funeral.' And you know why I said that? They gave him so much love all across the country. And you know what happened? Exactly a month later, he left us. Thank you, Cathy, for that. Give her a hand for that. Give her a hand for letting Marion hear what people thought about him. Give her a hand for putting them all over the country. Thank you so much. And also, on a personal one, I want to thank you for all you do to the children in Washington D.C. She gives scholarships to college. Did y'all know that? She sends kids to college. Did you know that? And more importantly, she supports the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Yeah, I know. Already. I love you, Cathy. I would give you a key to the city if I had it, but since I've never been the kid given the key to the city, I'mma join in on you getting it. Thank you, and I love you. I love you, too, Mayor Bowser.
Now, you know they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? So, imagine being the son of Cathy Hughes. He got a chance to grow up with her, to watch her build this company, and then together they grew this company into what we know today. Everyone, a huge round of applause for the president of Radio One and Urban One, Alfred Liggins.
