NAACP Image Awards

NAACP Image Awards
Current: 57th NAACP Image Awards
Awarded forExcellence in film, television, theatre, music, and literature
CountryUnited States
Presented byNAACP
First awardAugust 13, 1967 (1967-08-13)
Websitenaacpimageawards.net

The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the American-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Over 40 categories of the Image Awards are voted on by the NAACP members. Honorary awards (similar to the Academy Honorary Award) have also been included, such as the President's Award, the Chairman's Award, the Entertainer of the Year, the Activist of the Year, and the Hall of Fame Award. Beyoncé is the most awarded individual with 25 wins as a solo artist.

History

The awards ceremony was conceived by Toni Vaz[1] during an April 1967 NAACP branch meeting in Beverly Hills. "I called it the Image Awards because I wanted a better image for the people who worked in the industry," Vaz said. "I wanted to put this award show together to thank the producers for giving good roles to people of color." Vaz stated that the branch president liked the idea, but when she called members and friends to enlist volunteers for an awards show committee, no one volunteered. Vaz then contacted numerous Black celebrities such as Sammy Davis Jr., who hosted the first meeting of the NAACP Beverly Hills Hollywood Branch in his home; Sidney Poitier, whom she had worked with on the film Porgy and Bess; and Ivan Dixon, an actor, director and producer of Hogan's Heroes at the time. Vaz also wrote letters to secure sponsors for the event and booked the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the first NAACP Image Awards show was held on August 13, 1967. The ceremony was presented by activists Maggie Hathaway, Sammy Davis Jr. and Willis Edwards, all three of whom were leaders of the Beverly Hills-Hollywood NAACP branch.[2][3]

Due to changes in timing of the awards, there was no awards ceremony held the following years:

  • 1973, as the timing was changed to honor a full calendar year early in the following year.
  • 1979, as the 11th annual awards were held in June 1978[4] and the 12th annual awards were held in January 1980.[5] The awards reverted to a "late-in-year" ceremony for 1980–1990 with the 13th annual awards held in December 1980.[6]
  • 1991, as the timing returned to early in the following calendar year to honor the previous year's work.
  • 1995, when the awards were canceled due to financial concerns.

In 1982, the NAACP celebrated the 15th Annual Image Awards by televising the ceremony for the first time.[7] Initially the NAACP Image Awards aired locally in Los Angeles on KHJ-TV (currently known as KCAL-TV)[2] although the 1982 and 1983 programs were syndicated nationally.[8] Willis Edwards, former president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch of the NAACP, persuaded then-NBC President Brandon Tartikoff to nationally broadcast the 19th NAACP Image Awards, which was held at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on December 14, 1986.[2] The show made it's first network appearance on NBC on Saturday, January 17, 1987, as a 90-minute special at 11:30 pm, preempting the slot usually filled by Saturday Night Live.[9]

Initially the Image Awards aired in a late night slot on NBC in the weeks when Saturday Night Live did not air a new episode, but in subsequent years, it aired on primetime on Fox and continued to air on primetime when it returned to NBC.[2][10][11] The award show had its first prime time telecast on April 23, 1996 for its 27th edition as it began its 16-year run on Fox.[11][12] The award show was broadcast live for the first time on March 2, 2007 for its 38th edition (the ceremony was broadcast with tape delay prior to 2007). The Image Awards returned to NBC for its 43rd edition in 2012.[11][13]

For five years from 2014 to 2018, the NAACP partnered with Black-owned cable network TV One to air the Image Awards.[2]

The New York firm Society Awards manufactures the trophy since its redesign in 2008.

Cultural impact

The NAACP Image Awards has received national attention and dubbed as the "Black Oscars/Emmys/Grammy" award show from the African-American and Latino community, as it is an important prestigious award celebrating artists and entertainers of color that may have been overlooked from by the mainstream film, television, theater and music award counterparts (EGOT) due to racial seclusion or low interest from film and television studios. Whereas, it created more exposure for content on a wide spectrum of urban media versus other awards shows where they can be celebrated and appreciated. Actors such as Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Taraji P. Henson and many others expressed the differences of not being visually seen by the industry's standard and how artists and entertainers should look to the NAACP Image Awards as the highest achievement. The campaign of #OscarSoWhite began as a protest after seeing few people of color being nominated or win in major categories at the Academy Awards. Since then, minor adjustments have been made for inclusion as more people of color have become nominated and win at the mainstream prestigious award ceremonies.[14]

Event dates and locations

# Date Host(s) Location
1st August 13, 1967[3] The Beverly Hilton
2nd September 22, 1968[15] The Beverly Hilton
3rd October 11, 1969[16]
4th November 15, 1970[17]
5th November 21, 1971[18]
6th November 18, 1972[19]
1973 - not presented, timing changed to have achievements of a calendar year honored early in following year
7th January 19, 1974 Hollywood Palladium
8th January 18, 1975
9th February 7, 1976
10th April 24, 1977
11th June 9, 1978[4] Deneice Williams/Adam Wade/Glynn Turman/Arethra Franklin/Don Mitchell/Judy Pace Century Plaza Hotel
12th January 27, 1980[5] Louis Gossett Jr./Rita Moreno/Ted Lange/Benjamin Hooks/Jack Valenti Hollywood Palladium
13th December 7, 1980[6] Robert Guillaume
14th December 6, 1981[20]
15th December 5, 1982[21][7]
16th December 4, 1983[22][23] Jayne Kennedy/George Peppard/Michael Warren
17th December 1984
18th December 1985
19th December 14, 1986[24][25] Debbie Allen/Denzel Washington Wiltern Theatre
20th December 13, 1987[25][26]
21st December 1988
22nd December 9, 1989
23rd December 9, 1990
1991 - not presented, timing changed to have achievements of a calendar year honored early in following year
24th January 11, 1992 Pasadena Civic Auditorium
25th January 16, 1993
26th January 5, 1994
1995 - not presented, financial concerns[27]
27th April 6, 1996[12] Whitney Houston/Denzel Washington Pasadena Civic Auditorium
28th February 8, 1997 Arsenio Hall, Patti LaBelle
29th February 14, 1998 Vanessa L. Williams, Gregory Hines
30th February 14, 1999 Mariah Carey, Blair Underwood[28]
31st February 12, 2000 Diana Ross
32nd February 23, 2001 Chris Tucker Universal Amphitheatre
33rd March 3, 2002
34th March 8, 2003 Cedric the Entertainer
35th March 6, 2004 Tracee Ellis Ross/Golden Brooks/Persia White/Jill Marie Jones
36th March 19, 2005 Chris Tucker Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
37th February 26, 2006 Cuba Gooding Jr. Shrine Auditorium
38th March 2, 2007 LL Cool J
39th February 14, 2008 D. L. Hughley
40th February 12, 2009[29] Halle Berry/Tyler Perry
41st February 26, 2010 Anika Noni Rose/Hill Harper
42nd March 4, 2011[30] Wayne Brady/Holly Robinson Peete
43rd February 17, 2012 Sanaa Lathan/Anthony Mackie
44th February 1, 2013 Steve Harvey
45th February 22, 2014 Anthony Anderson[31] Pasadena Civic Auditorium
46th February 6, 2015
47th February 5, 2016
48th February 11, 2017
49th January 15, 2018
50th March 30, 2019 Dolby Theatre
51st February 22, 2020 Pasadena Civic Auditorium
52nd March 27, 2021 Virtual
53rd February 26, 2022
54th February 25, 2023 Queen Latifah Pasadena Civic Auditorium[32]
55th March 16, 2024[33] Shrine Auditorium
56th February 22, 2025[34] Deon Cole Pasadena Civic Auditorium
57th February 28, 2026[35]

Controversies

In 1987, the NAACP received criticism for not presenting their Best Actress award for that year. They defended this position, citing a lack of meaningful roles for Black women.[36] In 1990, they were criticized once again for not awarding Best Actress.[37] This was the fourth time it could not find enough nominees for Best Actress.[37] Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the organization's Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch, said, "The [film] industry has yet to show diversity or present realistic leading roles for African-American women."[37]

In several instances, nominees have been perceived as "undeserving" or "unworthy" of recognition by members of the media, fellow celebrities, as well as the general public; in their own defense, some NAACP representatives have stated that the overall quality of an artist's work is the salient issue. This would render certain factors, such as criminal charges or the nominee's history, being inconsequential in this regard. For example, in 1994, rapper Tupac Shakur was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (for Poetic Justice), despite sexual assault charges being filed against him in December 1993.[38] Furthermore, Shakur had been accused of felony counts of forcible sodomy and unlawful detainment in New York City; a woman alleged that he and two male accomplices held her captive, in a hotel room, and restricted her movements, holding her down as a fourth accomplice sodomized her.[39] Shakur was also indicted for two counts of aggravated assault, in an unrelated incident, in which he supposedly shot and wounded two off-duty police officers.[39] The same year, Martin Lawrence was criticized for winning Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series for Martin, after Lawrence had been banned from Saturday Night Live due to sexual content in his opening monologue.[39] In 2004, R. Kelly's Chocolate Factory was nominated for Outstanding Album[40] while he was under indictment for charges related to child pornography.[41]

Other nominees have faced controversy due to their portrayals of major civil rights figures. In 2003, the comedy film Barbershop received five nominations, including Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Supporting Actor (for Cedric the Entertainer's performance); during the film, Cedric's character makes pejorative remarks about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jackson, and Jesse Jackson. This content caused criticism, including Parks' refusal to attend the ceremony.[42] Hip-hop group Outkast received six nominations in 2004, and criticism soon followed, for both them and the NAACP, due to the name of one of their songs being "Rosa Parks". The song had resulted in Parks suing OutKast for defamation over use of her name.[41]

Award categories

Motion picture

Music

Literature

Podcast

  • Outstanding News and Information Podcast
  • Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast
  • Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
  • Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
  • Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast

Television

Special awards

References

  1. ^ "NAACPLA: Image Awards Founder Honored". naacplosangeles.org/. May 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Image Awards History". The Show. NAACP Image Awards. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "NAACP Will Present Nine Image Awards". Los Angeles Times. August 7, 1967. p. 74 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "NAACP Pothumously Honors Steve Biko With Image Award". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Vol. 122, no. 233. AP. June 11, 1978. p. 22 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection. at its 11th annual Image Awards ... Friday night at the Century Plaza Hotel ... Serving as hosts were... **On the top left corner of the page it says Sunday, June 11, 1978.
  5. ^ a b Robinson, Leroy (May 1980). "'Together They Did It!' - The 12th Annual NAACP Image Awards". The Crisis. Vol. 85, no. 5. ISSN 0011-1422 – via Google Books. pp. 162, 164: Mr. Robinson was producer of the 12th Annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony, January 27, 1980, at the Hollywood Palladium.
    p. 164: "with the honorary chairman, Jack Valenti, present to make the annoucement of nominations. ... The moment of truth had arrived. January 27, 1980 ... Show time! ... A rousing sendoff with ... a few choice words from co-hosts Luis Gossett, Jr., Rita Moreno, Ted Lange, Benjamin Hooks, Valenti;"
  6. ^ a b "African Roots of Jazz at Art Museum". Showtime. Baltimore Afro-American. Vol. 89, no. 28 (Late City ed.). November 15, 1980. p. 19 (digital file p. 10) – via Google News Archive. The Beverly Hills Hollywood NAACP 13th annual Image Awards will be held Dec 7 at the Hollywood Palladium
    * Williams, Jean (December 20, 1980). "Music Folk Brush off Image Fete". Counterpoint. Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. p. 56 (digital file p. 103) – via Google Books. the 13th annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Hollywood Palladium Sunday (7). ... Robert Guillaume, NBC-TV's 'Benson' held the show together ... as host of the event.
  7. ^ a b "NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom - Multimedia". Exhibitions. Library of Congress. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. In 1982 the NAACP celebrated the Fifteenth Annual Image Awards by televising the ceremony for the first time. Actor Robert Guillaume served as the Master of Ceremonies.
  8. ^ Carmody, John (December 8, 1986). "(untitled)". Style. Washington Post. NBC will air the 19th annual NAACP Image Awards on Jan. 17, starting at 11:30 p.m. It will be the awards' first network appearance, although the 1982 and 1983 programs were syndicated nationally
  9. ^ "NAACP Images Awards to air nationally" (PDF). Friday Plus. Baltimore Afro-American. January 16, 1987. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2026 – via Maryland State Archives.
  10. ^ Cox, Dan (January 6, 1994). "Surprise jackson visit". Variety. NBC, which taped the show for broadcast at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 22
  11. ^ a b c Wallenstein, Andrew (January 17, 2012). "NAACP Image Awards move to NBC". Variety.
  12. ^ a b Snow, Shauna (February 22, 1996). "5 Films Head Nominations for NAACP Image Awards". Movies. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020.
    * Snow, Shauna (March 2, 1996). "Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press.: Quick Takes". Entertainment & Arts. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Actor Denzel Washington and singer-actress Whitney Houston have been tapped to host the 27th annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony, which makes its prime-time TV debut April 23 on Fox.
  13. ^ Sneider, Jeff (January 9, 2007). "NAACP announces nominees". Variety.
  14. ^ Collins, Scott (February 6, 2016). "NAACP Image Awards highlight the power of diversity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "NAACP to Confer Honors at Beverly Hilton Fete". Valley Times (of North Hollywood). San Fernando Valley Times Co. August 6, 1968. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Knapp, Dan (September 27, 1969). "Getting Blacker, But Not Black Enough". Vancouver Sun – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "NAACP Sets Annual Image Awards Show". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1970 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Marvin Gaye Wins Top Honors at NAACP Image Awards Show". Pittsburgh Courier. December 4, 1971 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "NAACP Honors Black Performers". The Palm Beach Post. November 20, 1972 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Williams, Jean (December 19, 1981). "Black Acts No-Shows at NAACP Fete". Counterpoint. Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 50. p. 66 (digital file p. 65) – via Google Books. the 14th annual NAACP Image Awards here Dec. 6 ... Not one recording artist was present to accept his or her award at the Hollywood Palladium
    * Crowder, Guy (December 6, 1981). "Debbie Allen accepting an award during the NAACP Image Awards, Los Angeles, 1981". University Library Digital Collections / Tom & Ethel Bradley Center Photographs. California State University Northridge. Host and actor Robert Guillaume ... during the 14th Annual NAACP Image Award presentations held at the Hollywood Palladium.
  21. ^ "NAACP names Image winners". Hanford Sentinel. AP. December 7, 1982. p. 6-B (digital file p. 20) – via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15th annual Image Awards ... The awards were handed out Sunday night at the Hollywood Palladium **Date on top left corner of the page says Tues., Dec. 7, 1982
  22. ^ London, Michael (November 18, 1983). "'Flashdance' gains Beals nomination". Entertainment. The Bulletin. Vol. 80, no. 299. p. 31 (digital file p. 36) – via Google News Archive. The 1983 Image Awards ceremony will be held Dec. 4 at the Hollywood Palladium.
  23. ^ a b "NAACP awards". Spotlight. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Vol. 127, no. 285. AP. December 5, 1983. p. A-10 (digital file p. 10) – via California Digital Newspaper Collection. Coretta Scott King has been honored with the Key of Life Award in the 16th annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium. The star-studded ceremony, hosted by television personality Jayne Kennedy and actors George Peppard and Mike Warren
  24. ^ "NAACP Image Awards". People. Times-Advocate. The Associated Press. November 2, 1986. p. A10 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection. contenders for the 19th annual awards ... Winners of the Image Award will be honored Dec. 14 at ceremonies in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Theater.
  25. ^ a b Germain, Tabie (January 19, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards: 5 Of The Most Memorable Past Hosts". Celebrity. BET.
  26. ^ "Best actress award dropped in NAACP Image Awards". Archives. UPI. October 29, 1987.
  27. ^ "NAACP board may decide fate of costly Image Awards at meeting this week". The Baltimore Sun. February 12, 1995. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  28. ^ Lewis, Ida E., ed. (March 1999). "NAACP Image Awards Glitters For 30 Years". The Crisis. Vol. 106, no. 2. pp. 35–37. ISSN 0011-1422. OCLC 609962350. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  29. ^ "Halle Berry and Tyler Perry to Host Live Broadcast of "40th Naacp Image Awards" Thursday, February 12, on Fox" (Press release). Fox Broadcasting Company. December 16, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
  30. ^ "42nd NAACP Image Awards | Winners & Honorees | Television". naacpimageawards.net. March 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  31. ^ "The 45th NAACP Image Awards Announces Additional Presenters Including Idris Elba, Vin Diesel, Terry Crews & More". TV By The Numbers. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  32. ^ "2024 NAACP IMAGE AWARDS VIP". VIP Concierge. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "NAACP Announces "55th NAACP Image Awards" to Air Live in Los Angeles Saturday, March 16, 2024, on BET" (Press release). BET. September 29, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  34. ^ Paul Grein (February 21, 2025). "Deon Cole Set to Host 2025 NAACP Image Awards, Ledisi to Perform". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  35. ^ PSweenie Saint-Vil (November 20, 2025). "Deon Cole to return as host for 57th NAACP Image Awards". ABC News. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  36. ^ "NAACP cites lack of Best Actress in a Motion Picture Award due to lack of meaningful roles". UPI.com. October 29, 1987. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  37. ^ a b c "Why NAACP lacks image award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture". LA Times. October 25, 1990. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  38. ^ "Michael Jackson makes surprise appearance at NAACP Image Awards". Jet. January 24, 1994. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  39. ^ a b c Leonardi, Marisa (January 7, 1994). "Shakur Questionably nominated". LA Times. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  40. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (January 8, 2004). "Outkast, Beyoncé, R. Kelly Nominated For NAACP Image Awards". VH1.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  41. ^ a b "Paula Zahn Now: Can Democrats Challenge Kerry?; NAACP Controversy; California Death Penalty Debate". CNN.com. January 28, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  42. ^ "Image Awards rekindle 'Barbershop' controversy". CNN.com. March 9, 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
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