Last night’s 47th NAACP Image Awards was electrifying. The controversy surrounding the Academy Award’s apparent decision to ignore the performances of every black performer was not ignored during the live broadcast, but the celebration of black actors and performers in film, tv and music was the reason everyone came out.
Hosted by Anthony Anderson, the two-hour program was attended by some of the biggest names in entertainment. Michael B. Jordan was named Entertainer of the Years for his widely heralded role in Creed.
Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, LL Cool J, Gina Rodriguez, Michael B. Jordan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shonda Rhimes, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Sanaa Lathan and Tom Joyner were just a few of the notables who were on hand.
The NAACP Chairman’s Award went to Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III; Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley; Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Brittany “Bree” Newsome; Jussie Smollet; Justice League NYC; Concerned Student 1950 Collective at the University of Missouri, Columbia; and The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter. NAACP Chairwoman Rosyln Brock made the presentation.
NAACP President Cornell William Brooks presented the NAACP President’s Award to John Legend.
A special tribute, not televised, was made to Julian Bond, former Chairman of the NAACP.
The NAACP Image Awards is the premiere multicultural awards show, celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the television, music, literature and film. It also pays tribute to people and groups who creatively promote social justice by peaceful means.
Winners are determined by vote of the members of the NAACP via a secured online site. The results are tabulated by the Image Awards auditors, Bert Smith & Co., and the results are kept confidential until the envelope is opened LIVE on stage.
Below are all of the winners for the 47th NAACP Image Awards.
Outstanding Comedy Series
“black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
“Empire“ (FOX)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Terrence Howard – “Empire” (FOX)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Taraji P. Henson – “Empire“ (FOX)
Outstanding Motion Picture
“Straight Outta Compton“ (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan – “Creed“ (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Sanaa Lathan – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems)
Entertainer of the Year
Michael B. Jordan
The winners Non-Televised Awards Dinner” were as follows:
Television Categories
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Mike Epps – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini- Series, or Dramatic Special
“The Wiz Live!” (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini- Series, or Dramatic Special
David Alan Grier – “The Wiz Live!” (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini- Series, or Dramatic Special
Queen Latifah – “Bessie” (HBO)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
“The Talk” (CBS)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” (OWN)
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Family Feud” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-Series)
Marcus Scribner – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety Program (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Steve Harvey- “Family Feud” (Syndicated)
Recording Categories
Outstanding New Artist
Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol.4” – Miles Davis (Columbia Legacy Recordings)
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)
“It’s Personal” – Tina Campbell (Gee Tree Creative)
Outstanding Music Video
“Shame” – Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
“Back Together” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Album
“Woman” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“You’re So Beautiful” – Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz (Columbia Records)
Literature Categories
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Stand Your Ground” – Victoria Christopher Murrary(Touchstone)
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
“Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga” – Pamela Newkirk (HarperCollins/Amistad)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“The Fishermen” – Chigozie Obioma (Little, Brown & Company)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Between The World and Me” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (Speigel & Grau)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family” – Alice Randall, Caroline Randall Williams (Clarkson Potter)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“How to Be Drawn” – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books/ Penguin Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America” – Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Jamey Christoph (Illustrator) (Albert Whitman & Company)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“X: A Novel” – Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekia Magoon(Candlewick Press)
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
O’Shea Jackson, Jr. – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Phylicia Rashad – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
Documentary Categories
Outstanding Documentary – (Film)
“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (PBS Distribution/Firelight Films)
Outstanding Documentary – (Television)
“Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ” (BET)
Writing Categories
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Kenya M. Barris – “black-ish” – The Word (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Mara Brack Ali, Jameal Turner, Keli Goff – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Lawrence Hill, Clement Virgo – “The Book of Negroes”(BET)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Directing Categories
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” – The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule (Showtime)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Ryan Coogler – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Animated or Computer Generated Image (CGI) Category
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)
Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Sources: Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/people/2016/02/06/naacp-image-awards/79921840/
NAACP Image Awards website: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.
