Resilience and unity were recurring themes at the 56th annual NAACP Image Awards, held Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, and hosted by actor/comedian Deon Cole.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, recipient of the Chairman’s Award, spoke about persistence in adversity during her acceptance speech. The Chairman’s Award is the ceremony’s highest prize in the noncompetitive categories. Comedian Dave Chappelle, who won the President’s Award, spoke about moving on in these difficult times when he accepted his recognition.
Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight”—the historical drama based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a group of Black women who served in World War II—won the most prizes (five), including Best Motion Picture. Actress/singer/TV host Keke Palmer was named Entertainer of the Year.
The show was also a fundraiser for survivors of the wildfires that devastated many communities in California in January. Donations were encouraged for the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, benefiting those impacted by the fires in the historically Black community of Altadena, California. Some of the survivors were invited on stage at the ceremony. R&B singer Ledisi, backed by the Adam Blackstone Band, performed a medley of “Wholy Holy” and “How I Got Over” with a choir of Altadena residents.
Nominees and winners for the NAACP Image Awards are chosen by NAACP members and NAACP associates. Voting for winners in the competitive categories are also open to the general public, with Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Social Media Personality having online voting at the NAACP Image Awards’ website.
Chairman’s Award recipient Harris said in her speech: “While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, written by us, by we the people.”
BET President’s Award recipient Dave Chappelle said the recognition meant the most to him out of all the awards he’s received because it was from the NAACP. Chappelle made reference to the turbulent political times and to those affected by the California wildfires in his acceptance speech.
“I hope all of us who work in this industry feel strong and inspired and not discouraged, especially because this is a very difficult time right now. And your institution is, sadly, more relevant than it’s been in a long time,” Chappelle told the NAACP audience. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it feels good to know that we’re not in it alone. We’ve got each other. Remember, community is everything.”
Chappelle added, “My father told me a phrase that got me all the way to where I am today. He said, ‘Whenever you mess up or you feel like you can’t get up, … remember these words because they’re magic words.’ And I said, ‘What’s the words, dad?’ And he’s saying, … ‘Y’all, let’s keep it moving.’ ”
Among other award winners: Michael Rainey Jr. of Starz’s “Power Book II: Ghost” won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, and Damon Wayans of CBS’s “Poppa’s House” won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. This was Wayans’ first NAACP Image Award after six nominations.
Damon Wayans later went on stage with other members of the Wayans family—Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans, Chaunté Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans, and Craig Wayans—as winners of the Hall of Fame Award. Damon Wayans and Marlon Wayans spoke on the family’s behalf, thanking eldest brother Keenen Ivory Wayans (who did not attend the ceremony for unnamed reasons) for being the artistic family’s greatest inspiration.
“Not only can you dream, but you can make your dreams come true,” Marlon Wayans said in his speech.
BET Media Group, founded in 1981, received the Founders Award. In his acceptance speech, BET President/CEO Scott Mills said: “We at BET, when we look to the next 45 years, our commitment is to ensure that the BET canvas is available to the future generations of Black creators, Black artists, and Black leaders who want to share their messages, their art, and their vision with all of us.”
“The Six Triple Eight” star Kerry Washington, winner of Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, gave special thanks to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who “proved to us how extraordinary Black women are, how extraordinary we have always been, at a time when our history is being ripped from us, at a time when people are trying to get us to not tell our stories. We are telling your stories, ladies, because you are calling us forward into our greatness.” While accepting the Outstanding Motion Picture award, “The Six Triple Eight” producer Nicole Avant echoed the gratitude by thanking this historical group for its “greatness,” “strength,” “truth,” and “resilience.”
Entertainer of the Year winner Palmer complimented fellow category competitors Cynthia Erivo and other nominees before saying: “I’ve been in this business for 20 years. Nobody has uplifted me more than you all: the people in this room. And so, while we continue to ask for more money, because we need that, it’s important that we remember that what we choose and what we deem is important is enough.”
Palmer and the ceremony’s other presenters were Chlöe Bailey, Don Cheadle, Morris Chestnut, Laverne Cox, Clifton Davis, Danielle Deadwyler, Jay Ellis, David Alan Grier, Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Edwin Hodge, Janelle James, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, LL Cool J, Karla Mosley, Ego Nwodim, Harold Perrineau, NAACP Chairman Leon Russell, Shannon Sharpe, Jurnee Smollett, Gabrielle Union, and George Wallace.
The “In Memoriam” tribute included a spotlight on Quincy Jones that had DJ D-Nice mixing a medley of hits that Jones wrote and/or produced.
CBS, BET, and other Paramount-owned TV networks had the U.S. telecast of the show.
The nonprofit National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), founded in 1909, is the oldest civil rights group in the United States.
A complete list of winners can be found at the official NAACP Image Awards website.
