Celebrating local African Americans

TYLER – 2026 Black History Month Awards Gala was held in Tyler on Friday as a way to celebrate local African Americans in the arts. The City of Tyler partnered with the Caldwell Arts Alliance to host Friday’s gala at the Willow Brook Country Club, according to our news partners at KETK. On top of paying tribute to those in the arts with awards, the gala was also an opportunity to hand out scholarships to aspiring artists. “We find young people who exemplify excellence in the arts and we uplift, we celebrate them and encourage them to keep going,” Tyler Black History Month Coordinator Sonya Hunter said. Students were able to earn scholarships worth between $250 and $1000. Many of the scholarships were funded by Friday’s award recipients.