Deemed “The Blackest Night In Hollywood,” by the NAACP, the organization put Black art, entertainment, and leadership at the forefront during their 56th annual NAACP Image Awards.
The award show took place on Feb. 22 in Pasadena, California, and included historical wins in several categories. According to the NAACP, the entire Wayans family was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame and Vice-President Kamala Harris received the Chairman’s Award, an award honoring those dedicated to social change.
BET Networks documented Harris’ win being met with a roaring standing ovation followed by an acceptance speech highlighting the importance of amplifying Black voices. Her speech encouraged the audience members to continue speaking up.
“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, 'What do we do now?' But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before, and we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, we mobilize, we educate and we advocate,” said Harris
Issac “Ike” McLendon, HU first-year music performance major and member of The Marching Force, shared why he believes uplifting Black leadership and entertainment is crucial for the advancement of the culture.
“It inspires the birth of new culture in the Black community,” he said. Speaking on the impact Black entertainment has had on his life, McLendon said, “It has given me a new sense of self to connect and learn from.”
It was also a big night for Tyler Perry’s film The Six-Triple-Eight, a film retelling the story of the real all-Black-women battalion serving during World War II. According to USA Today, Kerry Washington, the star of the film, stated that the evening was "about all of us being called into our greatness.”
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, expressed his feelings about the event and the influence the celebration has on the Black community in a statement posted on the NAACP website.
“The NAACP Image Awards stand as a tribute to their creativity, talent, and dedication to authentic storytelling and are a testament to the richness and diversity of our community,” said Johnson.
Aiming to influence the community both inside and outside of the award show venue, the NAACP dedicated the event to aiding victims of a destructive fire that occurred in Eaton Canyon in Altadena, California. Viewers were urged to text "Altadena 2025" to 707070 to donate to the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, an organization founded by the NAACP themselves along with BET Media Group, Johnson Shapiro, Slewett & Kole (JSSK), and WME.
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