Michael B. Jordan, 'Compton,' Diversity Celebrated at NAACP Image Awards
By Derrick J. Lang
It was a total knockout for Michael B. Jordan at the NAACP Image Awards in a ceremony that took several jabs at Hollywood for the lack of racial diversity.
The star of the boxing drama Creed was honored Friday as both the entertainer of the year and outstanding actor in a motion picture for his role as Apollo Creed’s son.
“I used to sneak into the Image Awards, and now I’m standing here as the entertainer of the year, which is mind blowing,” he said.
Straight Outta Compton, which tells the story of the pioneering rap group NWA, picked up the outstanding motion picture prize.
“I want to thank the NAACP for this because without you riding for us for the last 100 years, we would not be standing here,” director F. Gary Gray said.
Image Awards host Anthony Anderson kicked off the ceremony by invoking NWA for a rap about the lack of racial diversity at other awards shows.
The black-ish star donned a gold chain and a baseball cap with the words “Nominees With Attitude” to sing about such snubs as Beasts of No Nation and Jordan at the Academy Awards.
“Listen, y'all, I don’t mean to sound cocky, but the movie’s called Creed, not Rocky,” he rapped.
Anderson later joked during his opening monologue that he didn’t want the Academy Awards to go overboard in response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy by honoring a movie like Madea Goes Trick or Treating in Compton as best picture or handing out Kevin Harts instead of Oscars.
“Hollywood needs to know that this is what diversity is supposed to look like,” a more serious Anderson told the crowd at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
When he walked on stage to present Creed as an outstanding motion picture contender, Sylvester Stone was surprised to be greeted warmly by the audience.
“I certainly didn’t expect that,” said the Rocky star, who failed to recognize Jordan and Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler in his acceptance speech at last month’s Golden Globes. He later returned to the stage to thank them and apologized on Twitter.
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee were among this year’s Image Awards attendees who said they won’t attend this year’s Oscar ceremony after a second year of mostly white nominees.
Despite several comments — both mocking and thoughtful — about the lack of racial diversity in Hollywood, it was mostly show business as usual for the 47th Image Awards, which are presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor people of color in entertainment.
black-ish swept the TV comedy categories Anderson winning the award for outstanding actor, while the show was selected as outstanding comedy series and his co-star Tracee Ellis Ross was honored as outstanding actress.
On the TV drama side, Empire dominated with wins for outstanding drama series, actor and actress for Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
“We don’t need to ask for acceptance from anyone,” Henson said. “We are enough.”
Sanaa Lathan was awarded the trophy for best actress in a motion picture for The Perfect Guy.
John Legend received the NAACP President’s Award, which recognizes those who have achieved career success and public service. In his speech, the singer-songwriter lauded activists who fight for social justice.
“Despite the daunting problems, I am hopeful that our generation will demand and achieve radical change in our lifetime,” said Legend after he performed “All of Me.”
“Some will take offense when we have to assert that our lives do, indeed, matter,” he added. “But we know better.”
For the first time, the NAACP Chairman’s Award, which honors distinguished public service, was presented to eight recipients, including pastor Jamal Bryant, Empire actor Jussie Smollett and the activist group Concerned Student Collective 1950 at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Here’s the complete list of winners at the 47th Annual NAACP Image Awards:
Entertainer of the Year: Michael B. Jordan
President’s Award: John Legend
Motion Picture Categories
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)
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)
Television Categories
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 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Joe Morton – Scandal (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Regina King – American Crime (ABC)
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 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 Television Movie, Miniseries, or Dramatic Special
The Wiz Live! (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries, or Dramatic Special
David Alan Grier – The Wiz Live! (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Miniseries, 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 Miniseries)
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)
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)
