March 15, (THEWILL) – Hosted by actor and seven time winner of the NAACP Image award, Anthony Anderson, the 53rd edition of the NAACP Image awards, the week-long virtual experience culminated in the celebration of the stellar achievements and performances of people of colour across more than 80 competitive categories – including the non-televised awards program, and a curated conversation series.
During the ceremony, NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, presented the President’s Award to Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who together have heeded the call to social justice and have joined the struggle for equity both in the U.S and around the world.
The ceremony also featured a spectacular performance by nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer and two-time Academy Award-nominated actress and producer Mary J. Blige. Additional guest appearances included Kerry Washington, Lil Nas X, LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Michael Strahan, Morgan Freeman, Regina King, Paula Patton, Simu Liu, Tiffany Haddish, and Zendaya.
Below is the complete list of winners for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards:
NON-TELEVISED AWARDS
Outstanding International Song
“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems & Justin Bieber
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Long Division” – Kiese Laymon
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story” – Nikole Hannah-Jones
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“Just As I Am” – Cicely Tyson
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography
“Will” – Will Smith
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business)” – Tabitha Brown
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Perfect Black”- Crystal Wilkinson
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Stacey’s Extraordinary Words” – Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Ace of Spades”- Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information
Blindspot: “Tulsa Burning”
Outstanding Podcast – Arts and Entertainment
“Jemele Hill is Unbothered”
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture
“Jemele Hill is Unbothered”
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle / Self-Help
“Two Funny Mamas” – Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley
Special Award: Youth Activist of The Year
Channing Hill
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama
“Between the Scenes” – The Daily Show
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction
“Token of a Great Day” – Lynching Postcards
Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)
“When The Sun Sets (Lakutshon’ Ilanga)”
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)
“Us Again”
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae- “Insecure” – Episode #510 “Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?!”
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Davita Scarlett – “The Good Fight” – 505
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Abdul Williams – “Salt-N-Pepa”
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Shaka King, Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas- “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle – “South Side” – “Tornado”
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Barry Jenkins – “The Underground Railroad”
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Kenny Leon – “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary
Samantha Knowles, Yoruba Richen, Geeta Gandbhir, Nadia Hallgren- “Black and Missing”
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Shaka King – “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Special Award: Activist of The Year
Scot X. Esdaile
Outstanding Talk Series
“Red Table Talk”
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith- “Red Table Talk”
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
“Wild ‘n Out”
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Trevor Noah- “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“The ReidOut”
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America”
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Family Reunion”
Outstanding Animated Series
“We The People”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Cree Summer – “Rugrats”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture
Letitia Wright – “Sing 2”
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Danny Boyd Jr. – “Bruised”
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Jeymes Samuel – “The Harder They Fall”
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“The Harder They Fall”
Outstanding International Motion Picture
7 Prisoners
Outstanding Guest Performance
Maya Rudolph – “Saturday Night Live”
Special Award: Roy Wilkins Civil Rights Award
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus, Texas House Democratic Caucus, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus
Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental
“Sounds from the Ancestors” – Kenny Garrett
Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal
“Generations”- The Baylor Project
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Help Me”- Tamala Mann feat. The Fellas
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Overcomer”- Tamela Mann
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Silk Sonic- “Leave the Door Open”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
(Contemporary)
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe- “Fye Fye”
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – JAY-Z & Jeymes Samuel
Outstanding New Artist
Saweetie – “Best Friend” feat. Doja Cat
Outstanding Male Artist
Anthony Hamilton – “Love Is The New Black”
Outstanding Female Artist
Jazmine Sullivan – “Heaux Tales”
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song
“Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
Outstanding Album
“Heaux Tales”- Jazmine Sullivan
Special Award: NAACP Humanitarian of the Year
Darnella Frazier
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