Ruby Dee Honored at BET's "Black Girls Rock!" Ceremony

By Joyce Lee

Ruby Dee, the actress who co-starred in the 1961 film adaption of "A Raisin in the Sun," was one of the many women honored at the 5th Annual "Black Girls Rock!" event, which aired Sunday on BET.

Dee, who is also known for being a political activist, journalist and poet, as well as an award-winning actress, was the receipt of this year's Living Legend Award.

"It's times like these that I come to understand and appreciate profoundly the empowerment and promise, the responsibility in being deemed a legend," Dee said in her acceptance speech, according to the press release.

The award show, which celebrated the power and influence of black women, also honored producer and rap artist Missy Elliot, who was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Teresa Clarke, the founder of Africa.com, who was given the Trailblazer Award.

Sunday's event, hosted by actress Nia Long, also featured musical performances by Keri Hilson, Ciara and Shontelle, but the show stopper was from Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi.

Nina Simone, Leona Lewis, Ledisi, and Janelle Monae Featured on 'For Colored Girls' Soundtrack

Here's a look at the soundtrack cover for Tyler Perry's 'For Colored Girls,' which will be released by Atlantic Records on Nov. 2.

The soundtrack features all new and unreleased music from artists such as Nina Simone, Gladys Knight, Leona Lewis, Estelle, Laura Izibor, Macy Gray, Janelle Monae and Lalah Hathaway.

The soundtrack sets the many stories of struggle told within the film's chore poem to music that reflects women's ongoing battle with love, abandonment and self-awareness.

Official track listing

1 Main Title – By Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington with Joshua Bell, Aaron Zigman & The Hollywood Studio

2 Longer & Stronger – By Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

3 All Day Long (Blue Skies) – By Estelle

4 What More Can They Do – By Laura Izibor

5 Sun – By Lalah Hathaway

6 Ansomnia – By Zaki Ibrahim

7 Settle – By Gladys Knight

8 La Donna In Viola – By Karen Slack, Andrea Jones-Sojola & The Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra

9 Sechita (A Senhora em Amarelo) – By Anika Noni Rose & Carondelet Percussion Ensemble

10 Stand Up – By Macy Gray

11 Without A Fight – By Janelle Monàe

12 Four Women – By Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor & Ledisi

13 I Know Who I Am – By Leona Lewis

Directed by Tyler Perry, the film is based on Ntozake Shange's 1975 Tony Award-winning play and stars Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Michael Ealy, Kimberly Elise, Omari Hardwick, Hill Harper, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Khalil Kain and Richard Lawson.

'For Colored Girls' hits theaters on Nov. 5.