The Seen: Major League

The Los Angeles Urban League held its 36th Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Dinner at a packed Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The night was meant to honor "Oscar Award-Winning Black Men," but it was politics that was well represented, not Hollywood. First Gov. Arnold spoke to the big-time do-gooders. "I always see the glass half full," he said of the rotten economy. Next up: Mayor Villaraigosa, who told the crowd he was proud "We have a White House where a brother is president." Later award recipient Chief William J. Bratton got choked up during his standing O. (Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass got a standing O too, when the guv praised her for giving the state a budget.) As for the honoree no-shows, Alfre Woodard gave the excuse everyone was—thankfully—working (Sidney Poitier sent an emotional taped message), and Disney made up for it by unveiling their first African American royalty. The directors and writer of The Princess and the Frog went into great detail about the holiday season release, revealing everything from original line drawings (hand-drawn animation is back!) to a cliffhanging sneak peak. Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) voices Princess Tiana and brought down the house with a song from the movie.

Photographs by Los Angeles Urban League/Earl E. Gibson III