Lizzo was named entertainer of the year and “Just Mercy” won best motion picture, best actor and best supporting actor Saturday (2/22) at the NAACP Image Awards, as the show that recognizes entertainers of color ladled honors on the film that was snubbed by bigger shows throughout awards season.
“We are such a beautiful people, this is just a reminder of all the beautiful things that we can do,” said Lizzo as she accepted the night’s last and biggest award, leaping and dancing off the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium as the show ended.
Host Anthony Anderson of “black-ish” opened the show, telecast on BET for the first time, with a monologue that took a shot at the lack of diversity at the Oscars and Hollywood’s other ceremonies that handed out awards earlier in the year.
“Unlike other awards shows, we actually have black nominees,” Anderson said. He may well have been talking about “Just Mercy,” the acclaimed film that was snubbed by the Oscars, Golden Globes and other ceremonies in the long awards season.
Michael B. Jordan won best actor in a motion picture for his role as a crusading defense attorney in the film, and Jamie Foxx won best supporting actor for the wrongly convicted man he fought for.
“This project is a lot bigger than me. It’s about every person that’s wrongfully convicted and sitting in a jail cell right now,” Jordan said as he accepted the award.
Foxx won his fifth career image award for his role in “Just Mercy,” saying, “Thank you so much, black people, African-Americans, and everything else we are.”
He added, “Its always great to get it from black folks because we are so talented.”
Lupita Nyong’o won best actress in a film for her role in “Us,” and 15-year Marsai Martin won best supporting actress for her role in “Little” over superstar names including Jennifer Lopez, Janelle Monáe and Octavia Spencer.
Martin’s award went with three more she won Friday for her roles in “Little” and “black-ish” during the non-televised first night of the Image Awards.
“Thank you to all the beautiful black girls out there who inspire me every day,” Martin said as she accepted the supporting actress award.
Martin’s “black-ish” cast mate Tracee Ellis Ross won best actress in a TV comedy series, her ninth career Image Award.
“I love being a part of this ever-growing chorus of black women owning our legacies,” Ross said as she accepted the award.
It was a big Image Awards all-round for “black-ish,” which took home seven, including best TV comedy and best actor in a TV comedy for host Anderson.
The NAACP gave its Chairman’s Award, which goes to people who show exemplary public service and “create agents of change,” to civil rights legend U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
“The NAACP has been like a bridge over troubled waters,” Lewis, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, said in a recorded acceptance speech from Washington. “We’re going to have some more troubled waters, and we’re going to need the NAACP.”
Rihanna received the NAACP President’s Award for special achievement and distinguished public service. She called for racial, religious and cultural unity during her acceptance speech.
“If there’s anything that I’ve learned, it’s that we can only fix this world together,” Rihanna said. “We can’t do it divided. Tell your friends to pull up.”
She added, “We’ve been denied opportunities since the beginning of time, and still we prevail … Imagine what we can do if we do it together.”
Beyoncé was the big winner at Friday night’s non-televised gala, winning six awards, including outstanding female artist and album. She also won outstanding duo/group for her collaboration with her 8-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, and Saint Jhn.
Here's a rundown of catetgory winners:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Lizzo
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
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
Deon Cole – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
“Greenleaf” (OWN)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Harold Perrineau – “Claws” (TNT)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Lynn Whitfield – “Greenleaf” (OWN)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
When They See Us (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Jharrel Jerome – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Niecy Nash – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
Unsung (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
“Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show
“Rhythm + Flow” (Netflix)
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Family Reunion” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Jada Pinkett Smith – “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series
Kelly Rowland – “American Soul” (BET Networks)
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Album
“Homecoming: The Live Album” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Outstanding New Artist
Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
“SPIRIT” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“Before I Let Go” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“Brown Skin Girl” – Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyoncé & WizKiD (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Love & Liberation” – Jazzmeia Horn (Concord Jazz)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary)
“Love Theory” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Records/RCA Records)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“The Lion King: The Gift” – Beyoncé w/Various Artists (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
LITERATURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“The Revisioners” – Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counter Point Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
“The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations” – Toni Morrison (Alfred A. Knopf)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer” – Hal Banfield (Author), Javier Vasquez (Illustrator), (Literary Revolutionary)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)” – Elaine Welteroth (Viking Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, And Opportunity For Black Women In America” – Karen Arrington (Author), Joanna Price (Illustrator), Sheryl Taylor (Forward) (Mango Publishing)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Felon: Poems” – Reginald Dwayne Betts (W.W. Norton Company)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Sulwe” – Lupita Nyong’o (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, BFYR)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Around Harvard Square” – C.J. Farley (Akashic Books)
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Motion Picture
“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Lupita Nyong’o – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Jamie Foxx – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture
Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)
James Earl Jones – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” (Magnolia Pictures)
Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special)
“Hitsville: The Making of Motown” (Showtime)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Cord Jefferson – “The Good Place” – Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy (NBC)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Nichelle Tramble Spellman – “Truth Be Told” – Monster (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Suzan-Lori Parks – “Native Son” (HBO)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Anya Adams – “GLOW” – Outward Bound (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson – “Power” – Forgot About Dre (STARZ)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Rashid Johnson – “Native Son (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)
