Many actors and actresses took the stage with thank you speeches Friday, Feb. 6. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP aired its 46th Image Awards on TV One. ABC’s black-ish actor Anthony Anderson hosted the ceremony. He opened the show with his own lyrics to Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” entertaining the audience members and the viewers at home with lyrics like, “Forget the Oscars, hallelujah/ Forget the Emmys, hallelujah/ Forget the Globes, hallelujah.” Overall, the awards ceremony was fun to watch.
Although she was not in attendance and up against Kerry Washington, Nicole Beharie, Gabrielle Union and Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis won Outstanding Actress for her role in ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder. This show also won outstanding drama series against Scandal, Being Mary Jane, Grey’s Anatomy and House of Cards; they also won an award for outstanding writing in a drama series.
ABC’s black-ish also had a good night, winning Outstanding Comedy Series. House of Lies, Orange is the New Black, Key and Peele and Real Husbands of Hollywood were also nominated for this category. Not only did black-ish win for Outstanding Comedy Series, but host Anthony Anderson won Outstanding Actor for his work in the show; his television wife, Tracee Ellis Ross, won for Outstanding Actress.
Selma also won big at the ceremony, taking home the award for Outstanding Motion Picture; David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King Jr., won Outstanding Actor for his performance in this film.
Lead actress Taraji P. Henson in FOX’s Empire won two awards. One was for Outstanding Actress in a motion picture for No Good Deeds, and the other was for Entertainer of the Year. Beyoncé, Viola Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Chris Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key were also nominated for Entertainer of the Year.
Even though ABC’s Scandal did not win Outstanding Drama and Kerry Washington did not win Outstanding Actress, two supporting actors from Scandal did receive an award. Khandi Alexander received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Joe Morton won Outstanding Supporting Actor.
Other actors and actresses who won awards for their supporting roles were Shemar Moore for his performance in Criminal Minds; Common and Carmen Ejogo for their parts in Selma; and Yara Shahidi and Laurence Fishburne for their roles in black-ish.
Lastly, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award for his work in office. Spike Lee was awarded the NAACP President’s Award for his political and social films, and Clive Davis received the Vanguard Award for his contribution to helping African Americans succeed.
The NAACP Image Awards gave light to the creative work by African-Americans in the entertainment industry. Hopefully next year’s awards show will be filled with even more talent and winners.
