The major honors this year were showered upon 'Black Panther.' The superhero genre film won for Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Writer to Ryan Coogler, Best Actor-Chadwick Boseman, and honors for the entire ensemble cast. The movie garnered 9 awards. 50 years of recognizing and celebrating outstanding professional excellence in literature, art, music, film, TV and positive images of African Americans were on stage in full glamour at the NAACP Image Awards Show. (Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA. March 30th) The hit TV show 'Black-ish' received honors for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Awards for Traci Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson.
Anderson's, always hilarious mom accepted the award on stage. The gritty show Power won for Outstanding Drama Series, with Omari Hardwick who won for Best Actor. Other major award honorees include Los Angeles area, Congresswoman Maxine Waters. She received the NAACP Chairman's Award. Beyonce won The Entertainer of the Year Award. The President's Award Recipient this year was presented to Shawn Jay-Z Carter. Radio personality Tom Joyner received the Vanguard Award.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama received an Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work Non Fiction, 'Becoming.' During the red carpet guest arrivals before the show and afterward backstage, many of the honorees shared with us their pride for the NAACP, the Image Awards and for the tireless work of members. Other artists expressed worried concern about the country's seemingly divisive tone...saying 'wow is this stuff really happening today.' But most shared with us that they live by a motto of America's glass is half full-- optimistic about the future.
David Alan Grier ('Cool Kids,' 'Boomerang,' In Living Color) also shared with us that America remains THE place where dreams come true and that we're all Americans.
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was established in 1909 and is the oldest and largest civil rights organization.
(All Photos in this gallery, are courtesy of NAACP Image Awards Site)
###