The 38th NAACP Image Awards, Live on Fox
Celebrating Diversity in Film, Literature, Music, and Television
The Emmys, Golden Globes, Oscars, and SAGs may have come and gone already, but the awards season is definitely not over yet. For the first time ever, the NAACP Image Awards ceremony will air live, starting at 8pm EST tonight on Fox. Veteran hip-hopper and pretty darn successful actor LL Cool J hosts the annual celebration that recognizes both people of color and proponents of diversity in the arts and entertainment fields.
The nominees and eventual winners selected by voting members of the NAACP come from a wide variety of specialties, as evidenced by the seven distinct award categories: literary, recording, television, motion picture, independent/foreign film, directing, and writing. Moreover, this year’s deserving special honorees are CNN journalist Soledad O’Brien, Irish musician Bono of the rock band U2, and actor-comedian Bill Cosby.
Not to take anything away from their achievements, but Bono and Cosby are kind of ho-hum recipients for me since their names occur so often in connection with these kinds of “show your love” events. I’m really psyched for O’Brien, however, who, in addition to being a fine journalist, is extremely dedicated to several notable causes, such as the Harlem School for the Arts.
The NAACP Image Awards began in 1969 and were televised nationally for the first time in 1974. Tonight’s 38th ceremony takes place at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
NAACP Image Awards statuette photo courtesy of the NAACP Image Awards
