Sean 'Diddy' Combs Receives the Reginald F. Lewis Award

Sean "Diddy" Combs, is the recipient of the inaugural Reginald F. Lewis Award. The award presentation was part of a fundraiser event to raise money for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

“It’s truly a humbling experience,” Combs said. “The way I can try to explain to everybody the importance of this award. Imagine if you’re a basketball player, and they say your name in the same sentence as Michael Jordan.”

The award was presented to Combs by Loida Lewis, Reginald F. Lewis’ widow.

“Diddy is the Jackie Robinson of clothes and entertainment,” Lewis said. “Diddy, like Reginald F. Lewis, is a creative visionary.”

Reginald F. Lewis was the first African American to open a law firm on Wall Street. In October 1987, Reginald purchased the international division of Beatrice Foods, with holdings in 31 countries, which became known as TLC Beatrice International.

TLC Beatrice International was the first black owned company to have $1 billion in annual revenue and was the largest black-owned business in the U.S. for 11 years.

Lewis was born in Baltimore on Dec. 7, 1942 and died of brain cancer in January 1993.

Source: blackenterprise.com, primenewswire.com