As the NAACP Image Awards commemorates its 55th anniversary this year, it remains an unwavering symbol of Black excellence, dedicated to showcasing creatives and projects that are frequently overlooked by other mainstream platforms. #naacp
(Getty Images.)
Among this year's contenders for Entertainer of the Year, the ceremony's pinnacle honor, are Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Usher, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, and Keke Palmer. Alongside the main event, honorary accolades were presented during the two-hour live television broadcast that aired on March 16, hosted by BET and CBS from the esteemed Shrine Auditorium. Additionally, winners across various non-televised Image Awards categories were acknowledged from March 11 to 14, with streaming available on naacpimageawards.net.
“It is such an honor to be recognized for doing something that you love,” expressed Palmer, who has four nominations. Beyond entertainer of the year, she was nominated for character voiceover performance (“The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”), directing a TV movie or special (“Big Boss”) and arts and entertainment podcast (“Baby, This Is Keke Palmer”).
(Paris Griffin. Getty Images.)
“I have been performing since the age of nine, and I know I truly am blessed to have found something that I am very passionate about and that is entertainment,” Palmer continued. “It is absolutely an honor to be recognized by such a historic organization like the NAACP, as well as to have been chosen for recognition by my peers.”
Kyle Bowser, Senior VP of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau, emphasizes the ceremony's consistent celebration of both impactful and captivating contributions. He perceives it as a direct embodiment of the organization's overarching mission, specifically concerning the portrayal and visibility of Black individuals within the public domain, particularly within media and entertainment realms.
“The Image Awards is a platform that allows everyone the opportunity to see firsthand just how immense, how fast, how deep, and how broad our contributions are to culture. It’s right there on display and it’s undeniable,” Bowser expresses to Variety. “I just feel given the events of the current era, I think people are going to start doing more accurate math about who we are and what our proximity is to the epicenter of culture.”
The organization also brings attention to pay equity and on-screen representation issues for Black performers.
“Unlike other award shows, we are a nonprofit that has an awards show, versus an awards show that has a nonprofit,” affirms Robin Harrison, VP of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau. “So our focus and our work is slightly different in that we can utilize the Image Awards to honor people who typically may not have been honored. That goes hand-in-hand with the advocacy work that we do in the industry." #groundbreakers
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson hope the ceremony will "continue shaping a cultural narrative that will create a more representative landscape across the entertainment industry and society at large."
Andra Day gave a beautiful performance in dedication to those who have passed over the last year. #inmemoriam
Johnson shares: “The awards show remains a powerful platform for recognizing and honoring outstanding contributions from various communities, influencing positive change, and inspiring a more inclusive and equitable future and we’re confident that it will continue to hold its impact for the years to come.”
#naacpawards #naacpimageawards #blackexcellence #celebratediversity #queenlatifah #kekepalmer #usher
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