People in the news.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

WILLIAMS SISTERS HONORED BY ESSENCE

Venus and Serena Williams were overwhelmed with emotion as they were honored for their "courage and tenacity" at the 14th annual Essence Awards.

The tennis champion sisters wept as they gave their acceptance speech at the event, held Friday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Venus said the award was important to them because "in the last couple of weeks, we've had a difficult time."

"We're emotional, and we can't help it," she said through tears.

The sisters have been dogged by allegations in recent weeks that they intentionally drop out of matches in which they are pitted against each other. Both Williams sisters were booed during a recent tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., after Venus dropped out of a semifinals match against Serena, who went on to win the tournament.

They received a standing ovation as they were honored by Essence, the magazine geared toward black women. Other honorees included Samuel L. Jackson; civil rights activist Randall Robinson; neurosurgeon Keith Black; educators Hans and Ivan Hageman; and Charlotte Austin-Jordan, Frances Davis, Dee Sumpter and Yvonne Pointer, mothers who have become community activists after their children were murdered.

Bill Cosby's wife, Camille, gave a special tribute to the women. She noted that since her son, Ennis, was killed in 1997, 50,000 children have been murdered.