Backstage Buzz at the NAACP Image Awards

Article and interview by Jazmyn Summers

Source: Variety / Getty

You probably read  the news on Black America Web that The NAACP Image awards wrapped this weekend with Usher being honored with the President’s Award for Entertainer of the Year. Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance to present the honor.

The singer paid tribute to the women in his life.

“They say behind or beside or with every strong man is a stronger woman, and for that I thank my mother and I thank my beautiful wife, Jennifer, for holding me down,” he said, before giving a nod to his kids and his late grandmother, Ernestine Carter.

“My kids, I love you guys so, so much, I hope that I’m an example, I’m a dad whose just trying to get it right every day.”

Usher then went on to thank his mother (who was his manger at the start of his career).

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

 Taraji Henson won big for “The Color Purple”. During her acceptance speech, she took the opportunity to thank those who stood by her during the press tour for the movie when she initially called out the pay inequality that exists in Hollywood.

“I just want to thank you guys so much for showing up for me all the time, not just to the box office or watching what I’m in but y’all saw what happened and y’all showed up, you showed out, you showed me love,” Henson said during her speech. “It’s a scary thing to speak your truth but I urge you all to speak your truth because at the end of the day that’s all we have.”

Queen Latifah, who hosted the Awards show, cosigned saying “Thank you for standing up for all of us.”

Radio/TV personality Jazmyn Summers  chopped it up backstage for Radio One with  some of the winners, nominees and folks who just came to celebrate.

Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers

Sherri Shepherd, the popular host of the Emmy award winning “Sherri’ show, was beat out of the Outstanding Talk Series award by Jennifer Hudson, but won for Outstanding Host.  She tells Radio One, she has new movies and TV shows coming up including “Harlem”, and “Sex life of College Girls” but most importantly:

“I’m the mom of a 18 year old so we’re going to visit colleges.  He wants to be an influencer.  I just want to get him off these video games,” she joked.

She refused to comment on the controversial situation of her predecessor Wendy Williams who is being held by her legal guardian in an undisclosed location and not allowed to be in contact with her son or other family members.

Garcelle Beauvais was nominated  for outstanding guest performance on “Survival of the the Thickest” and the film she starred in and executive produced “Black Girl Missing” :

“It was a passion heart project for me to make sure that when Black and Brown people go missing they get the same attention, “she revealed.

As for the drama between her and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” castmate Dorit Kemsley, she says she just “can’t deal with micro aggressions” and doesn’t see them ever being friends.  Beauvais is the only nonwhite cast member.

Source: Leon Bennett / Getty

Radio One also caught up with legend Bobby Brown who won the Hall of Fame Award with New Edition.

“We’re being honored by our people which means everything. This is a highlight of my career, but the highlight of my life is my children, “he commented.

Source: Variety / Getty

The cast of Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” was in the building.

Newly married KJ Smith who plays Andrea Barnes and Skyh Alvester Black, whose role as the sexy stripper Amp  “Addiction” Anthony  on All the Queens Men brings the heat,  gushed about their love.

“Theoretically I got married late so what was extra special for me was that my journey was not just for me it was to share with other women who are on the journey now and encourage them to continue until they find their soulmate,” shares KJ. “ I realized I had to get out of my own way. What I love most about Skyh is his confidence and how he walks with God,.”

Skyh added:

“Our love is so special because there’s this myth that Black men cheat but it’s not about the many, it’s about the one.  It feels great to have someone who nurtures you, who knows you inside and out and you do the same and you all are locked into one heart.”

Chido Nwokocha, who plays the hated Gary on the show, didn’t want to say if the rumors that he “could put it down” were true but he says he is ‘ very single’ and is urging interested young ladies to slide in his DMS.  He says he’s looking for someone with character and a sweet soul.

Chido says people too often think he is the character:

“I get a lot of hate when I go in the public.  I get a little side eye. People be coming for me in my DMS, on social, everywhere. “

Novi Brown, Sabrina on Sistas, says the show is groundbreaking.

“Seeing Black womanhood and sisterhood is very important and to see it at different levels with different nuances and in different seasons is truly important.  What we love is you get to see these women grow, stretch, fall, make mistakes, recover but they still love each other which we all need because baby life be lifin.’”

Devale Ellis is Zac on Sistas and the spin off Zatima.

“The most important part of Zatima is understanding the process of going through a relationship.   On television we mostly see fairy tales. We see the ending without seeing people going through the hardships but Zatima goes through hardships. Zac is dealing with recidivism, he’s been in and out of prison, he has a lot of trauma because of his mom. He doesn’t know how to deal with a strong powerful woman like Fatima. We watch then work with each other to love on each other.”

Veteran actor Wendell Pierce was nominated for his role in Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan” and noted the unique role of the NAACP for our people.

“The NAACP for over 100 years is the premier organization to protect Black lives using their collective power, socially, politically, fiscally to protect our community.”

And he spilled some tea on his next role.

“I play Perry White editor of the Daily Planet in Superman so I will be Lois Lane’s, Clark Kent’s and little Jimmy Olsen’s boss. I like a Black man being the boss,” he disclosed.

Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers

Nicco Annan hopes his upcoming docuseries “Down in the Valley” will be a winner next year.  The six-episode series will explore the people, music, culture and stories of the South, featuring everything from strip clubs to sex workshops, rap performances and hoodoo rituals.  He was decked out in a black Dolce Gabbana suit and shares wassup with the new show:

“You get to go into the real world that influences the fictitious world of P Valley.  But one thing I’m happy about in my career is that I’m trying not to give you oversaturation of Nicco but just enough because when you taste me it’s a lot.”

Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers

Amin Joseph of “Snowfall” whose colleague Damson Idris won for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series commented that  Snowfall has a particular significance for our culture:

“It’s one of the last chapters in the legacy of John Singleton.  One of the constant things he always made films unapologetic unabashed and about his people.”

BET also premiered a sneak peek of their new show “Diarra of Detroit” after the awards. The show drops on March 21^st.

“It’s a story about a woman who is recently divorced so she goes on a hot date and he ghosts her but she doesn’t feel that he ghosted her.  She thinks he was probably kidnapped so it’s a great mystery . Was she ghosted or was he kidnapped?” reveals its star Diarra Kilpatrick.

Watch more interviews and the whole conversations in the video below.

Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers

Article and interview by Jazmyn Summers.  Please don’t forget to subscribe to her YouTube.  Follow her @jaztalk1 on Instagram and Facebook. 

See the full list of winners below:

1. 55th NAACP Image Awards

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Colman Domingo
• Fantasia Barrino
• Halle Bailey
• Keke Palmer
• Usher – WINNER

2. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Motion Picture 

• American Fiction
• Origin
• Rustin
• The Color Purple – WINNER
• They Cloned Tyrone

3. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture 

• Colman Domingo – Rustin – WINNER
• Denzel Washington – The Equalizer 3
• Jamie Foxx – The Burial
• Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction
• John Boyega – They Cloned Tyrone

4. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 

• Aunjanue Ellis–Taylor – Origin
• Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple – WINNERusi
• Halle Bailey – The Little Mermaid
• Teyana Taylor – A Thousand And One
• Yara Shahidi – Sitting in Bars with Cake

5. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 

• Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
• Erika Alexander – American Fiction
• Halle Bailey – The Color Purple
• Taraji P. Henson – The Color Purple – WINNER

6. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 

• Colman Domingo – The Color Purple – WINNER
• Corey Hawkins – The Color Purple
• Glynn Turman – Rustin
• Jamie Foxx – They Cloned Tyrone
• Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction

7. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture 

• Back on the Strip
• Brother – WINNER
• Story Ave
• Sweetwater
• The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster

Outstanding International Motion Picture 

• Anatomy of a Fall
• Brother – WINNER
• Mami Wata
• Rye Lane
• Society of the Snow

8. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture 

• Aaron Pierre – Brother
• Laya DeLeon Hayes – The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
• Mila Davis–Kent – Creed III
• Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – The Color Purple – WINNER
• Teyana Taylor – A Thousand And One

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture 

• American Fiction
• Rustin
• The Blackening
• The Color Purple – WINNER
• They Cloned Tyrone

9. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture 

• Elemental
• Lil’ Ruby
• Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse – WINNER
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
• Wish

10. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Motion Picture) 

• Ariana DeBose – Wish
• Brian Tyree Henry – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse
• Daniel Kaluuya – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse
• Issa Rae – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse – WINNER
• Shameik Moore – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse

Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action) 

• Flower
• Gaps
• Lucille
• Rocky Road on Channel Three
• The After – WINNER

Outstanding Short–Form (Animated) 

• Blueberry
• Bridges
• Burning Rubber
• Ego’ Curse
• Lil’ Ruby – WINNER

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) 

• A.V. Rockwell – A Thousand and One
• Blitz Bazawule – The Color Purple – WINNER
• Choice Skinner – A New Life
• Dewayne Perkins – The Blackening
• Juel Taylor – They Cloned Tyrone

11. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture

• Aaron Kingsley Adetola – A Thousand And One
• Aven Courtnery – A Thousand And One
• Calah Lane – Wonka
• Lennox Simms – Origin
• Mila Davis–Kent – Creed III – WINNER

Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film

• C. Kim Miles, Julia Liu, Clair Popkin – STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
• Eric K. Yue – A Thousand and One – WINNER
• Guy Godfree – Brother
• Ken Seng – They Cloned Tyrone
• Paul Yee – Joy Ride

12. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Comedy Series 

• Abbott Elementary – WINNER
• Harlem
• Survival of the Thickest
• The Neighborhood
• UnPrisoned

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series 

• Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood
• Delroy Lindo – UnPrisoned
• Dulé Hill – The Wonder Years
• Mike Epps – The Upshaws – WINNER
• Tone Bell – Survival of the Thickest

13. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

• Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live
• Roy Wood Jr. – The Daily Show
• Tyler Lepley – Harlem
• Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
• William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary – WINNER

14. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 

• Damson Idris – Snowfall – WINNER
• Forest Whitaker – Godfather of Harlem
• Idris Elba – Hijack
• Jabari Banks – Bel–Air
• Jesse L. Martin – The Irrational

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

• Ayo Edebiri – The Bear – WINNER
• Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live
• Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
• Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
• Shoniqua Shandai – Harlem

Outstanding Drama Series 

• Bel–Air
• Black Cake
• Found
• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story – WINNER
• Snowfall

15. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 

• Angela Bassett – 9–1–1
• India Ria Amarteifio – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story – WIN
• Octavia Spencer – Truth Be Told
• Queen Latifah – The Equalizer
• Zoe Saldaña – Special Ops: Lioness

16. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 

• Adrian Holmes – Bel–Air – WINNER
• Amin Joseph – Snowfall
• Giancarlo Esposito – Godfather of Harlem
• LaRoyce Hawkins – Chicago PD
• Wendell Pierce – Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 

• Adjoa Andoh – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
• Arsema Thomas – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
• Golda Rosheuvel – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
• Gail Bean – Snowfall – WINNER
• Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Black Girl Missing
• First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story
• Heist 88
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves
• Swarm – WINNER

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Brian Tyree Henry – Class of 09
• Courtney B. Vance – Heist 88
• Keith Powers – The Perfect Find – WINNER
• Lance Reddick – The Caine Mutiny Court–Martial
• Samuel L. Jackson – Secret Invasion

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Ali Wong – Beef
• Chlöe Bailey – Praise This – WINNER
• Dominique Fishback – Swarm
• Gabrielle Union – The Perfect Find
• Meagan Good – Buying Back My Daughter

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Carl Anthony Payne II – Binged to Death
• Damon Wayans – Cinnamon
• Damson Idris – Swarm
• Don Cheadle – Secret Invasion – WINNER
• Jharrel Jerome – Full Circle

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Aja Naomi King – Lessons in Chemistry
• CCH Pounder – Full Circle
• Micheala Jaé Rodriguez – American Horror Story: Delicate
• Phylicia Rashad – Heaven Down Here – WINNER
• Tisha Campbell – Every Breath She Takes

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) 

• 20/20 – Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts – WINNER
• The 1619 Project
• theGrio with Marc Lamont Hill 
• The Reidout
• Into America 

Outstanding Talk Series

• Hart to Heart 
• Sherri
• Tamron Hall 
• The Jennifer Hudson Show – WINNER
• Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

• America’s Got Talent
• Barbecue Showdown
• Celebrity Family Feud
• Critter Fixers: Country Vets
• Wild ‘N Out – WINNER

17. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) 

• A Black Lady Sketch Show – WINNER
• A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip–Hop 
• Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
• My Name is Mo’Nique
• Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer

Outstanding Children’s Program

• Ada Twist, Scientist
• Alma’s Way
• Craig of the Creek
• Gracie’s Corner – WINNER
• My Dad The Bounty Hunter

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)

• Alaya High – That Girl Lay Lay
• Elisha “EJ” Williams – The Wonder Years
• Jalyn Hall – The Crossover
• Keivonn Woodard – The Last of Us
• Leah Sava Jeffries – Percy Jackson and the Olympians – WINNER

18. NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

• Bomani Jones – Game Theory with Bomani Jones
• Joy Reid – The Reidout
• Sherri Shepherd – Sherri – WINNER
• Tamron Hall – Tamron Hall
• Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro,
• Alyssa Farah Griffin – The View

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

• Anthony Anderson, Cedric The Entertainer – Kings of BBQ
• DC Young Fly – Celebrity Squares – WINNER
• Nick Cannon – The Masked Singer
• RuPaul Charles – RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud

Outstanding Guest Performance

• Ayo Edebiri – Abbott Elementary
• Garcelle Beauvais – Survival of the Thickest
• Giancarlo Esposito – The Mandalorian
• Michael B. Jordan – Saturday Night Live – WINNER
• Roy Wood, Jr. – The Daily Show

Outstanding Animated Series

• Big Mouth
• Gracie’s Corner
• Marvel’s Spidey & His Amazing Friends
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder – WINNER
• Young Love

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Television) 

• Cree Summer – Rugrats
• Issa Rae – Young Love
• Keke Palmer – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
• Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder – WINNER
• Scott Mescudi – Young Love

19. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form Series

• Jessica Mikayla – Disney Launchpad Season 2
• Kevin Hart – Die Hart 2: Die Harter
• Leslie Jones – After the Cut–The Daily Show – WINNER
• Nathalie Emmanuel – Die Hart 2: Die Harter 
• Seth Carr – Disney Launchpad Season 2 

Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama

• After the Cut
• Die Hart 2: Die Harter
• Disney Launchpad Season 2
• Doggyland – WINNER
• I Am Groot

Outstanding Short-Form Series – Reality/Nonfiction

• Did You Know?
• I Was A Soul Train Dancer – WINNER
• Mama Mann’s Kitchen
• Ritual
• RuPaul’s Drag Race 

20. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) 

• Adjani Salmon – Dreaming Whilst Black
• Kale Futterman – Ginny & Georgia
• Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest – WINNER
• Thara Popoola – Sex Education
• Troy Hunter – Sex Education

21. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Male Artist

• Burna Boy 
• Chris Brown
• Davido
• Jon Batiste
• Usher – WINNER

Outstanding New Artist

• FLO
• Jordan Ward
• Leon Thomas
• October London
• Victoria Monét – WINNER

Outstanding Female Artist

• Ari Lennox
• H.E.R. – WINNER
• Janelle Monáe
• Tems 
• Victoria Monét

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

• All Yours – Kierra Sheard
• Father’s Day – Kirk Franklin – WINNER
• Impossible – Pastor Mike, Jr. 
• My Truth – Jonathan McReynolds
• The Maverick Way Complete – Maverick City Music

Outstanding International Song

• “Amapiano” – Asake feat. Olamide 
• “City Boys” – Burna Boy 
• “Me & U” – Tems – WINNER
• “People” – Libianca feat. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay 
• “Unavailable” – Davido 

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

• “Boyfriend” – Usher 
• “Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion
• “How We Roll” – Ciara
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay – WINNER

Outstanding Album

• Clear 2: Soft Life – Summer Walker
• For All The Dogs – Drake
• I Told Them… – Burna Boy
• Jaguar II – Victoria Monét – WINNER
• The Age of Pleasure – Janelle Monáe

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

• Creed III: The Soundtrack
• Godfather of Harlem: Season 3 (Original Series Soundtrack)
• Metro Boomin Presents Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture/Deluxe Edition)
• The Color Purple–Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – WINNER
• The Little Mermaid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

• “All Things” – Kirk Franklin 
• “All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown – WINNER
• “In The Room” – Maverick City Music 
• “It’s Working” – Todd Dulaney 
• “JOY (Unspeakable) – Voices of Fire feat. Pharrell Williams

Outstanding Jazz Album

• Brand New Life – Brandee Younger – WINNER
• Melusine – Cécile McLorin Salvant
• Who Are You When No One is Watching? – Braxton Cook
• Phoenix – Lakecia Benjamin
• Truth Be Told – Angie Wells

22. 55th NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

• “Back To Your Place” – October London
• “Good Good” – Usher feat. 21 Savage x Summer Walker
• “ICU Remix” – Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake – WINNER
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Lipstick Lover” – Janelle Monáe

Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song

• “All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• “Blue Eyes” – Vic Mensa
• “Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion – WINNER
• “Palisades, CA” – Larry June & The Alchemist
• “Sittin’ On Top of the World” – Burna Boy & 21 Savage 

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

• Ciara feat. Chris Brown – “How We Roll” – WINNER
• Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake – “ICU Remix” 
• Dreamville, Bas & Black Sherif feat. Kel–P – “Creed III: Soundtrack”
• Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard – “God Is Good” 
• Voices of Fire – “Joy (Unspeakable)”

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film

• American Fiction – Laura Karpman
• Rustin – Branford Marsalis
• The Color Purple – Kris Bowers
• The Other Black Girl – EmmoLei Sankofa
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Jongnic Bontemps – WINNER

23. NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

• Antoine Fuqua – The Equalizer 3 
• Ava DuVernay – Origin – WINNER
• George C. Wolfe – Rustin
• Juel Taylor – They Cloned Tyrone
• Michael B. Jordan – Creed III 

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

• Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest
• Donald Glover – Swarm
• Neema Barnette – Grand Crew – WINNER
• Numa Perrier – UnPrisoned
• Robbie Countryman – The Upshaws 

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

• Alonso Alvarez–Barreda – Snowfall
• Amin Joseph – Snowfall
• Carl Seaton – Godfather of Harlem
• Dawn Wilkinson – Power Book II: Ghost – WINNER
• Geary McLeod – Power Book II: Ghost 

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

• Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. – Cinnamon
• Chris Robinson – Shooting Stars – WINNER
• Keke Palmer – Big Boss 
• Numa Perrier – The Perfect Find
• Vivica A. Fox – First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story 

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

• Allen Hughes – Dear Mama – WINNER
• Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng – Invisible Beauty 
• Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner – Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over 
• Lisa Cortés – Little Richard: I Am Everything 
• Roger Ross Williams – Stamped from the Beginning

24. NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

• A.V. Rockwell – A Thousand and One
• Cord Jefferson – American Fiction – WINNER
• Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier – They Cloned Tyrone 
• Maggie Betts, Doug Wright – The Burial 
• Marcus Gardley – The Color Purple

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

• Ava Coleman – Abbott Elementary
• Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary
• Donald Glover, Janine Nabers – Swarm
• Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest
• Norman Vance, Jr. – Saturdays – WINNER

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

• Carla Banks–Waddles – Bel–Air – WINNER
• Lee Sung Jin – BEEF
• Marissa Jo Cerar – Black Cake 
• Nkechi Okoro Carroll – Found
• Shonda Rhimes – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

• Dwayne Johnson–Cochran – Heist 88 – WINNER
• Frank E. Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor – Shooting Stars
• Marlon Wayans – Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me
• Sam Jay – Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me
• Tina Gordon, Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage, Camilla Blackett – Praise This 

25. NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Graphic Novel

• Curlfriends: New in Town – Sharee Miller
• Ms Davis: A Graphic Biography – Sybille Titeux de la Croix, Amazing Améziane 
• Queenie: Godmother of Harlem – Aurelie Levy, Elizabeth Colomba
• Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America – Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Joel Christian Gill
• The Talk – Darrin Bell – WINNER

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

• Everything Is Not Enough – Lola Akinmade Åkerström
• Family Lore – Elizabeth Acevedo – WINNER
• House of Eve – Sadeqa Johnson
• Let Us Descend – Jesmyn Ward
• The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store – James McBride

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction

• Black AF History: The Un–Whitewashed Story of America – Michael
• Harriot
• BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art – Zaria Ware
• Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers – Black Interior Designers and June Reese
• The Art of Ruth E. Carter – Ruth E. Carter (Foreword by Danai Gurira)
• The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families – Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer – WINNER

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

• And Then He Sang a Lullaby – Ani Kayode Somtochukwu
• Coleman Hill: A Novel – Kim Coleman Foote
• Rootless – Krystle Zara Appiah – WINNER
• The Black Joy Project – Kleaver Cruz 
• The God of Good Looks – Breanne McIvor 

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography

• Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts – Maya Moore Irons
• Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds – Rich Paul
• Nothing Is Missing – Nicole Walters
• Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford – WINNER
• Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes – Stephen A. Smith 

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

• Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right – John Lewis
• Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments – Jocelyn Delk Adams, Olga Massov
• Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home – Kristen Griffith–VanderYacht
• Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon” Be There?” – Jarett Hill, Tre’vell Anderson – WINNER
• Livable Luxe – Brigette Romanek

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

• Above Ground – Clint Smith
• So to Speak – Terrance Hayes
• suddenly we – Evie Shockley – WINNER
• The Ferguson Report: An Erasure – Nicole Sealey
• Why Fathers Cry at Night – Kwame Alexander 

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

• CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora – Kahran Bethencourt – WINNER
• How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee –Carole Boston Weathorford, Frank Morrison
• I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots – Lid’ya C. Rivera, Nina Mata
• Is This Love? – Cedella Marley, Alea Marley
• Like Lava In My Veins – Derrick Barnes, Shawn Martinbrough 

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

• Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans – Isi Hendrix
• Eb & Flow – Kelly J. Baptist
• Everyone’s Thinking It – Aleema Omotoni – WINNER
• Fatima Tate Takes the Cake – Khadijah VanBrakle 
• Friday I’m in Love – Camryn Garrett 

26. NAACP Image Awards

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR NOMINEES 

• Angel Laketa Moore – WINNER
• Druski
• Keith Lee
• Lynae Vanee
• Terrell Grice

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film)

• Charlese Antoinette Jones – Air 
• Dierdra Elizabeth Govan –I’m A Virgo
• Toni–Leslie James, Josh Quinn –Rustin 
• Francine Jamison–Tanchuck –The Color Purple – WINNER
• Marci Rodgers, Richard Gross, Paul A. Simmons Jr. – Shooting Stars

Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film)

• Cole Patterson, Fabiola Mercado – Bel–Air
• Miho Suzuki –Lessons in Chemistry 
• Beverly Jo Pryor, Eric Pagdin, Quintessence Patterson –Rustin
• Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila, Milene Melendez –The Color Purple – WINNER
• Denise Pugh–Ruiz –UnPrisoned

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) 

• Shavonne Brown – A Black Lady Sketch Show 
• Carla Joi Farmer – Air
• Elizabeth Robinson – Creed III 
• Melissa “Missy” Forney, Sterfon Demings – A Black Lady Sketch Show
• Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson, Jorge Benitez Villalobos – The Color Purple – WINNER

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)

• Creed III – WINNER
• The Continental: From the World of John Wick
• They Cloned Tyrone 
• Titans
• Warrior 

27. NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding News and Information Podcast

• #SundayCivics 
• Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn–Grant
• Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams – WINNER
• Into America with Trymaine Lee
• The Assignment with Audie Cornish

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast

• Black Money Tree – WINNER
• Chile, Please 
• Is This Going To Cause An Argument 
• The Laverne Cox Show
• The Light

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast

• Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
• Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast
• More Than That with Gia Peppers
• The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean – WINNER
• The Bakari Sellers Podcast

Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast

• All the Smoke 
• Baby, This is Keke Palmer
• Being Black: The 80s
• Here’s The Thing – WINNER
• Nightcap with Unc and Ocho

Outstanding Scripted Series Podcast

• Crimson Hearts Collide 
• Small Victories 
• TwentyOne 21: A Black AF Scripted Audio Comedy
• Whose Amazing Life? 
• Yes We Cannabis – WINNER

Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short-Form

• I Am Story 
• Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast 
• Reclaimed: the Forgotten League
• The Greatest Day: The Epic Story Behind Hip–Hop’s Most Iconic Photograph 
• Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast  – WINNER