PHOTO FLASH: Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Ruby Dee et al. at 365Black Awards

Academy Award nominated actress Angela Bassett, who will be returning to Broadway in the fall in The Mountaintop, co-hosted with Tom Joyner the 2011 365Black Awards, held on Friday, July 1, in New Orleans, at the start of the Essence Music Festival weekend.

Among the honorees was Oscar-nominated and Grammy Award winning actress Ruby Dee, whose Broadway credits include A Raisin in the Sun, Anna Lucasta, Purlie Victorious, and Checkmates. Also honored was multi-platinum recording artist Mary J. Blige, who is playing the role of Justice in the forthcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Rock of Ages.

Additional honorees included Radio One network founder Cathy Hughes, NAACP president and CEO Benjamin Jealous, and civil rights activist and McDonald’s owner/operator Henry “Hank” Thomas.

The 365Black Awards were launched in 2003 and are an extension of McDonald’s 365Black initiative, created to celebrate the pride, heritage and achievements of African-Americans year round.