Lena Waithe To Receive Voice For Change Award

lena waithe - Miikka Skaffari

The writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe has been named as an honoree at this year's Humanitas Prizes.

Humanitas is a non-profit that “honors and empowers television and film writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way.” Having been held annually since 1974, this year’s Award Show & Toast will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Avalon Hollywood.

Waithe is to receive the Voice for Change Award, which “honors those who have created or championed visionary and courageous storytelling.” It comes in recognition of her wide range of work, including on the Emmy Award-winning Master of None episode, “Thanksgiving,” the 2019 film Queen & Slim, and the Showtime drama series The Chi. The Award will be presented by Mara Brock Akil, writer of the series Girlfriends, on which Waithe had started out in her career.

“Lena Waithe is a singular voice in contemporary screenwriting,” stated Humanitas executive director Michelle Franke. “Lena has explored the complexities of identity, belonging, love, and resilience. Lena’s commitment to truth, especially right now, makes her work culturally vital, profoundly human, and rare. It’s an honor to present her with The Voice for Change Award at such an important time.”

The remainder of the nominees for this year’s Humanitas Prizes are expected to be announced in the second week of July.