Instagram/@larenztate
Lari Tate won the 2025 Pow(H)er Man of the Year award at the 7th Annual Pow(H)er Awards in New York. The famous actor was very thankful for the award and he praised the event, the other winners and the impact they make on the culture.
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To be honest, Larenz Tate is grateful and really honored at the moment. His recognition in the 7th Annual Pow(H)er Awards in New York, where he was named 2025 Pow(H)er Man of the Year, is still considered one of the most significant awards for the actor. Tate shared his emotional reaction to the award as it was an “incredible honor” that made him very thankful.
On one hand, in his very emotional message, Tate especially thanked Dr. Nikkia McClain and her team of leaders for choosing him for this award and for making him stand out among the others. Also, he was right in congratulating the other winners at the gala and giving them the advice not to stop but rather intensify their efforts in “making an everlasting impact on the culture and world.”
The award organizer herself, Dr. Nikkia McClain, was one of the first to respond to Tate’s post. She expressed her own happiness about the award and said “First, it was an honor to honor the man, the myth, the legend!” She even made a funny comment about their relationship with “Plus we locked in….yaaa dig!!!!” Her passionate reaction shows that this recognition was particularly valuable for both the giver and the receiver.
One of the comments among the responses was particularly enthusiastic and came from a person who was very proud to be a Chicagoan and openly showed his/her admiration for the hometown hero. “This Is So Beautiful Congratulations King! You Truly Deserve It.. Because You Are ‘HIM’ You Are The ‘W🏆N’” was the wording of the comment, filled with the user’s hometown and strong support. The comment then went on saying that the person would love to see Mr. Tate not only continue his good qualities but also multiply them – “Continue To Strive, Prosper, Level Up, Walk By Faith, Believe, Inspire, Motivate, Be A Great Leader, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, God Fearing Soldier!” – and to uplift him/her with a growing “Let’s ChicaGooo!” that closely represented the strong bond between Tate and the community he came from.
Another follower took the personal route and asked the actor, “Question..do you care HOW YOU MAKE US FEEL!!??? ..THANK YOUR WIFE!! BUT WOW!!!” This gut response shows the strong and almost intimate relationship that has evolved between Tate and his audience over the years, with the commenter implying that the actor’s wife also deserves some credit for being supportive of such an impactful career.
The Pow(H)er Awards are intended to recognize and reward powerful people who not only provide great leadership but also bring about positive change in their communities and cultures. Therefore, the Man of the Year award given to Tate speaks of the tremendous influence he has had which has also transcended the screen. Starting from his iconic breakthrough performance in “Menace II Society” to his latest, in the meantime, Tate has always turned to his power for positive impact throughout all these years in his career.
The enormous number of main accolades pouring in the comments section illustrates how much this title means to the people who have followed Tate’s career the closest. A lot of the commenters referred to him using royal terms like “king” and “mighty,” while some others were pretty open and expressed it the way that the recognition was very much “deserved” on his part considering both the quality and quantity of his work and character.
Nevertheless, what makes this award especially important is the time at which it has come in Tate’s career. The award acknowledges not only his artistic contributions but also his larger cultural influence and community impact, after working in both TV and films for years. The Pow(H)er Awards focus on empowerment and positive change, thus making this recognition be considered quite the opposite of the given in the case of a typical entertainment industry award.
The celebration, without any doubt, is not only about Tate but also about the whole community and their pride in seeing one of Chicago’s own making such a strong impact in New York’s cultural scene. The geographical link makes the honor that much richer as it is a reminder of how the values of a hometown can be transformed into a national recognition.
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As the actor goes on with his career in the entertainment and philanthropy sectors, the Pow(H)er Man of the Year award will always be a significant event along his way. It is the acknowledgement not only of what he has accomplished but also of the positive energy and leadership he has brought to every initiative he has been part of so far. The actor’s modest reaction to the award, coupled with the enthusiastic backing of his community, was further highlighted when he recently declared “we gon make it” in an uplifting message. He also shared a powerful manifestation message that resonated widely. His commitment to his roots was evident when he hosted an epic Chicago gathering with friends and colleagues.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
