UNSUNG WINS ITS 4th NAACP AWARD

Unsung UNSUNG WINS ITS 4th NAACP AWARD

Arlene Washington

NAACP Image Awards: The Winners

Selma took home top film honors, while ABC's Black-ish and How to Get Away With Murder won top television awards at The 46th annual NAACP Image Awards.

"We did this movie because we wanted to tell their story — our story," Selma producer Oprah Winfrey said accepting the honor for her film. She also presented the Entertainer of the Year award to No Good Deed's Taraji P. Henson.

From one music mogul to another, Russell Simmons presented Clive Davis with the Vanguard Award for his contributions to the music industry. Simmons told press backstage that Davis’ strong love for melody is blind to race, which has helped him to break barriers in music.

“His heart is so beautiful and I think that’s what it takes to understand melody the way he does,” said Simmons. “To cross genres, it doesn’t matter what culture. It didn’t matter to Clive because he was a melody man. Giving him the award meant a lot to me personally.”

Simmons also admitted he’s addicted to Fox's Empire which follows the ups and downs of music magnate Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) and his family. He applauded the increase of lead roles for African Americans on television, but said that when powerful groups in Hollywood such as the Academy are not diverse, they may not understand the need to improve diversity.

“The Academy shouldn’t be 95 percent white,” said Simmons. “There should be a shift in the infrastructure this time around as the shows are hot. I think Jerry Springer is probably a lot more integrated than Hollywood.”

Filmmaker Spike Lee gave a well-received speech upon receiving the Chairman’s Award from NAACP President Cornell William Brooks. He told press that the recent Oscar snubs show that up and coming filmmakers should not always look for validation.

“It gets dangerous when you start allowing people to validate your work,” said Lee. “It becomes dangerous when the outcome becomes not the art but to win a Grammy, Oscar or a Tony whatever it is and you pick the prize ahead of the art. That’s when artists get in trouble. Sometimes you get snubbed by other people so it’s always great to be recognized and validated by us.”

 

Host Anthony Anderson was grateful to finally receive an Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series for his role on ABC’s Black-ish. After long joking about how his nominations never turned into wins, Anderson admitted there was no better way for him to earn his awards than with his Black-ish cast.

“I almost feel vindicated,” joked Anderson. “It took me 10 nominations over the course of 20 years. I’m happy and humbled by this, but I’m most excited and happy at the fact that we won this as a family.”

The Image Awards aired live on TV One. The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in TV, music, literature and film as well as those who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be voted upon by NAACP members.

A full list of the winners and nominees follows.

Outstanding News/ Information (Series or Special)

“Unsung” (TV One) (Winner)

“America After Ferguson” (PBS)

“Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” (PBS)

“Melissa Harris Perry” (MSNBC)

“Oprah’s Lifeclass” (OWN)

 

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Black-ish” (ABC) (Winner)

“Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

“House of Lies” (Showtime)

“Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)

“Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET)

 

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – “‘black-ish” (ABC) (Winner)

Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)

Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” (Showtime)

Keegan-Michael Key – “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)

Kevin Hart – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET)

 

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC) (Winner)

Mindy Kaling – “The Mindy Project” (FOX)

Niecy Nash – “The Soul Man” (TV Land)

Uzo Aduba – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (BET)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC) (Winner)

Boris Kodjoe – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET)

Glynn Turman – “House of Lies” (Showtime)

Marcus Scribner – “black-ish” (ABC)

Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Yara Shahidi – “black-ish” (ABC) (Winner)

Adrienne C. Moore – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

Laverne Cox – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

Lorraine Toussaint – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

Sofia Vergara – “Modern Family” (ABC)

 

Outstanding Drama Series

“How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) (Winner)

“Being Mary Jane” (BET)

“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)

“House of Cards” (Netflix)

“Scandal” (ABC)

 

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Shemar Moore – “Criminal Minds” (CBS) (Winner)

LL Cool J – “NCIS: LA” (CBS)

Omar Epps – “Resurrection” (ABC)

Omari Hardwick – “Being Mary Jane” (BET)

Taye Diggs – “Murder in the First” (TNT)

 

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Viola Davis – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) (Winner)

Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET)

Kerry Washington – “Scandal” (ABC)

Nicole Beharie – “Sleepy Hollow” (FOX)

Octavia Spencer – “Red Band Society” (FOX)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC) (Winner)

Alfred Enoch – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)

Courtney B. Vance – “Masters of Sex” (Showtime)

Guillermo Diaz  – “Scandal” (ABC)

Jeffrey Wright – “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Khandi Alexander – “Scandal” (ABC) (Winner)

Aja Naomi King – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)

Alfre Woodard – “State of Affairs” (NBC)

Chandra Wilson – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)

Jada Pinkett Smith – “Gotham” (FOX)

 

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

“The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks) (Winner)

“A Day Late and a Dollar Short” (Lifetime Networks)

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” (FX)

“Drumline: A New Beat” (VH1)

“The Gabby Douglas Story” (Lifetime Networks)

 

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Blair Underwood – “The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks) (Winner)

Charles S. Dutton – “Comeback Dad” (UP Entertainment)

Larenz Tate – “Gun Hill” (BET)

Mekhi Phifer – “A Day Late and a Dollar Short” (Lifetime Networks)

Ving Rhames – “A Day Late and a Dollar Short” (Lifetime Networks)

 

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Cicely Tyson – “The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks) (Winner)

Angela Bassett – “American Horror Story: Freak Show” (FX)

Keke Palmer – “The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks)

Regina King – “The Gabby Douglas Story” (Lifetime Networks)

Vanessa Williams – “The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks)

 

Outstanding Talk Series

“Steve Harvey” (Syndicated) (Winner)

“Oprah Prime” (OWN)

“The Queen Latifah Show” (Syndicated)

“The View” (ABC)

“The Wendy Williams Show” (Syndicated)

 

Outstanding Reality Series

“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN) (Winner)

“Shark Tank” (ABC)

“Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)

“The Voice” (NBC)

“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” (OWN)

 

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

“Oprah’s Master Class” (OWN) (Winner)

“BET Awards” (BET)

“Family Feud” (Syndicated)

“On the Run: Beyoncé and Jay Z” (HBO)

“UNCF An Evening of Stars” (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, The CW, BET, Centric)

 

Outstanding Children’s Program

“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior) (Winner)

“Anna Deavere Smith: A Youngarts Masterclass” (HBO)

“HALO Awards” (Nickelodeon)

“Dora and Friends: Into The City!” (Nickelodeon)

“Kid President: Declaration of Awesome” (HUB)

 

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/Children’s Program (Series or Special)

Fatima Ptacek – “Dora and Friends: Into The City!” (Nickelodeon) (Winner)

Amber Montana – “Haunted Hathaways” (Nickelodeon)

China Anne McClain – “How to Build a Better Boy” (Disney Channel)

Curtis Harris – “Haunted Hathaways” (Nickelodeon)

Taliyah Whitaker – “Wallykazam!” (Nickelodeon)

 

Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety

Steve Harvey – “Steve Harvey” (Syndicated) (Winner)

Queen Latifah – “The Queen Latifah Show” (Syndicated)

Chris Rock – “BET Awards” (BET)

Gwen Ifill – “America After Ferguson” (PBS)

Melissa Harris Perry – “Melissa Harris Perry” (MSNBC)

 

Outstanding New Artist

3 Winans Brothers (BMG) (Winner)

Aloe Blacc (XIX Recordings/Interscope Records)

Erica Campbell (My Block Inc./eOne Music)

Jhene Aiko (Def Jam Recordings)

Liv Warfield (Kobalt Label Services)

 

Outstanding Male Artist

Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records) (Winner)

John Legend (Columbia Records)

Kem (Motown – Capitol)

Kendrick Lamar (Interscope Records)

Michael Jackson (Epic Records)

 

Outstanding Female Artist

Beyoncé (Columbia Records) (Winner)

Alicia Keys (RCA Records)

Jennifer Hudson (RCA Records)

Ledisi (Verve Records)

Mary J Blige (Capitol)

 

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

“Stay with Me” – Sam Smith feat. Mary J Blige (Capitol) (Winner)

“Being With You” – Smokey Robinson feat. Mary J Blige (Verve)

“Brand New” – Pharrell Williams feat. Justin Timberlake (Columbia Records)

“Gust of Wind” – Pharrell Williams feat. Daft Punk (Columbia Records)

“Love, Marriage & Divorce” – Toni Braxton & Babyface (Def Jam Recordings)

 

Outstanding Jazz Album

“My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke” – Al Jarreau (Concord) (Winner)

“Dave Koz and Friends: The 25th of December” – Dave Koz (Concord Records)

“Beautiful Life” – Dianne Reeves (Concord)

“Living My Dream” – Jonathan Butler (Rendezvous Music)

“Up” – Stanley Clarke (Mack Avenue Records)

 

Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)

“Where My Heart Belongs” – Gladys Knight (Shadow Mountain Records) (Winner)

“Duets” – Donnie McClurkin (RCA Inspiration)

“Help” – Erica Campbell (My Block Inc./eOne Music)

“I Will Trust” – Fred Hammond (RCA Inspiration)

“Journey To Freedom” – Michelle Williams (eOne Music)

 

Outstanding Music Video

“You & I (Nobody in the World)” – John Legend (Columbia Records) (Winner)

“Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

“It’s You” – KEM  (Motown – Capitol)

“i” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope)

“Love Never Felt So Good” – Michael Jackson feat. Justin Timberlake (Epic Records)

 

Outstanding Song

“We Are Here” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records) (Winner)

“The Man” – Aloe Blacc (Interscope Records)

“Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

“i” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope)

“Good Kisser” – Usher (RCA Records)

 

Outstanding Album

“Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics” – Aretha Franklin (RCA Records) (Winner)

“Beyoncé Platinum Edition” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

“JHUD” – Jennifer Hudson (RCA Records)

“G I R L” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)

“Love, Marriage & Divorce” – Toni Braxton & Babyface (Def Jam Recordings)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

“A Wanted Woman” – Eric Jerome Dickey (Penguin Random House) (Winner)

“An Untamed State” – Roxane Gay (Grove/Atlantic – Black Cat)

“Another Woman’s Man” – Shelly Ellis (Kensington Publishing Corp.)

“Momma: Gone” – Nina Foxx (Brown Girls Publishing)

“The Prodigal Son” – Kimberla Lawson Roby (Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

“Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” – Bryan Stevenson (Spiegel & Grau) (Winner)

“Bad Feminist” – Roxane Gay (Harper Perennial/HarperCollins)

“Place not Race: A New Vision of Opportunity in America” – Sheryll Cashin (Beacon Press)

“The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act” – Clay Risen (Bloomsbury Press)

“Who We Be: The Colorization of America” – Jeff Chang (St. Martin’s Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

“Forty Acres” – Dwayne Alexander Smith (Atria Books) (Winner)

“Queen Sugar” – Natalie Baszile (Pamela Dorman Books/Penguin Random House)

“Remedy For A Broken Angel” – Toni Ann Johnson (Nortia Press)

“The 16th Minute of Fame: An Insider’s Guide for Maintaining Success Beyond 15 Minutes of Fame” – Darrell Miller (Dunham Books)

“Time of the Locust” – Morowa Yejide (Atria Books)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto Biography

“Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine” – Louis Sullivan with David Chanoff (University of Georgia Press) (Winner)

“Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair)” – Rosie Perez (Crown Archetype)

“Life In Motion” – Misty Copeland (Touchstone)

“Mayor for Life” – Marion Barry, Omar Tyree (Strebor Books)

“Stand Up Straight and Sing!” – Jessye Norman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

“Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life” – Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Hilary Beard (Spiegel & Grau) (Winner)

“101 Scholarship Applications: What It Takes to Obtain a Debt-Free College Education” – Gwen Richardson (Cushcity Communications)

“10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse” – JJ Smith (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster)

“Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed” – Bryant Terry (Ten Speed Press)

“Justice While Black: Helping African-American Families Navigate and Survive the Criminal Justice System” – Robbin Shipp, Nick Chiles (Agate Bolden)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

“Citizen: An American Lyric” – Claudia Rankine (Graywolf Press) (Winner)

“Digest” – Gregory Pardlo (Four Way Books)

“The New Testament” – Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

“The Poetry of Derek Walcott 1948-2013? – Derek Walcott, Selected by Glyn Maxwell (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

“We Didn’t Know Any Gangsters” – Brian Gilmore (Cherry Castle Publishing, LLC)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

“Dork Diaries 8: Tales From A Note-So-Happily Ever After” – Rachel Renee Russell with Nikki Russell and Erin Russell (Simon & Schuster) (Winner)

“Beautiful Moon” – Tonya Bolden (Author), Eric Velasquez (Illustrator) (Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers)

“Little Melba and Her Big Trombone” – Katheryn Russell-Brown (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator) (Lee & Low Books)

“Malcolm Little” – Ilyasah Shabazz (Author), AG Ford (Illustrator) (Simon & Schuster)

“Searching for Sarah Rector” – Tonya Bolden (Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers)

 

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

“Brown Girl Dreaming” – Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books) (Winner)

“Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America” – Russell Freedman (Holiday House)

“Revolution” – Deborah Wiles (Scholastic Press)

“The Freedom Summer Murders” – Don Mitchell (Scholastic Press)

 

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Selma” (Paramount Pictures) (Winner)

“Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)

“Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

“Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

“Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

 

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

David Oyelowo – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures) (Winner)

Chadwick Boseman – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer” (Columbia Pictures)

Idris Elba – “No Good Deed” (Screen Gems)

Nate Parker – “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

 

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Taraji P. Henson – “No Good Deed” (Screen Gems) (Winner)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)

Quvenzhané Wallis – “Annie” (Columbia Pictures)

Tessa Thompson – “Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

Viola Davis – “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” (The Weinstein Company)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Common – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures) (Winner)

André Holland – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

Cedric the Entertainer – “Top Five” (Paramount Pictures)

Danny Glover – “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

Wendell Pierce – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Carmen Ejogo – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures) (Winner)

Jill Scott – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

Octavia Spencer – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

Oprah Winfrey – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

Viola Davis – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)

 

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

“Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films) (Winner)

“Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

“Half of a Yellow Sun” (monterey media inc.)

“Life of a King” (Animus Films/Serena Films)

“JIMI: All Is By My Side” (XLrator Media)

 

Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical)

“Documented” (Apo Anak Productions)

“Finding Fela” (Jigsaw Productions)

“I Am Ali” (Focus World/Fisheye Films)

“Keep On Keepin On” (RADiUS)

“Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People” (Chimpanzee Productions, Inc.) (Winner)

 

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

“Bad Boys” (ESPN) (Winner)

“American Experience: Freedom Summer” (PBS)

“Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown” (HBO)

“Rand University” (ESPN)

“The War Comes Home: Soledad O’Brien Reports” (CNN)

 

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Sara Hess – “Orange is the New Black” – It Was the Change (Netflix) (Winner)

Brigette Munoz-Liebowitz – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” – Road Trip (FOX)

Aisha Muharrar – “Parks and Recreation” – Ann & Chris (NBC)

Regina Hicks – “Instant Mom” – A Kids’s Choice (Nickelodeon and Nick@Nite)

Mindy Kaling – “The Mindy Project” – Danny and Mindy (FOX) 

 

Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

Erika Green Swafford – “How to Get Away with Murder” – Let’s Get To Scooping (ABC) (Winner)

Zahir McGhee – “Scandal” – Mama Said Knock You Out (ABC)

Mara Brock Akil – “Being Mary Jane” – Uber Love (BET)

Warren Leight, Julie Martin – “Law & Order: SVU” – American Disgrace (NBC)

Zoanne Clack – “Grey’s Anatomy” – You Be Illin’ (ABC)

 

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Shernold Edwards – “A Day Late and a Dollar Short” (Lifetime Networks) (Winner)

Karin Gist, Regina Hicks – “Drumline: A New Beat” (VH1)

Reggie Bythewood – “Gun Hill” (BET)

Sterling Anderson, Maria Nation – “The Gabby Douglas Story” (Lifetime Networks)

Sharon Brathwaite, Peres Owino – “Seasons of Love” (Lifetime Networks)

 

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical)

Misan Sagay – “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films) (Winner)

Chris Rock – “Top Five” (Paramount Pictures)

Richard Wenk – “The Equalizer” (Columbia Pictures)

Justin Simien – “Dear White People” (Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate)

Margaret Nagle – “The Good Lie” (Alcon Entertainment)

 

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Ken Whittingham – “Parks and Recreation” – Prom (NBC) (Winner)

Ken Whittingham – “The Mindy Project” – Think Like a Peter (FOX)

Reginald Hudlin – “Bad Judge” – Knife to a Gunfight (NBC)

Linda Mendoza – “Bad Judge” – One Brave Waitress (NBC)

Stan Lathan – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – No New Friends (BET)

 

Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series

Carl Franklin – “House of Cards” – Chapter 14 (Netflix) (Winner)

Anton Cropper – “Suits” – One-Two-Three Go… (USA)

Cary Joji Fukunaga – “True Detective” – Who Goes There (HBO)

Hanelle Culpepper – “Criminal Minds” – The Edge of Winter (CBS)

Millicent Shelton – “The Divide” – And the Little Ones Get Caught (WE tv)

 

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Reggie Bythewood – “Gun Hill” (BET) (Winner)

Bille Woodruff – “Drumline: A New Beat” (VH1)

Greg Champion – “The Gabby Douglas Story” (Lifetime Networks)

Michael Wilson – “The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime Networks)

Stephen Tolkin – “A Day Late and a Dollar Short” (Lifetime Networks)

 

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical)

Antoine Fuqua – “The Equalizer” (Columbia Pictures) (Winner)

Amma Asante – “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)

Ava DuVernay – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

John Ridley – “JIMI: All Is By My Side” (XLrator Media)

Gina Prince-Bythewood – “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)

 

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior) (Winner)

Jamie Foxx – “Rio 2? (20th Century Fox)

Morgan Freeman – “The Lego Movie” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures/Ratpac-Dune Entertainment/Lego System A/S/Vertigo Entertainment/Lin Pictures)

Tracy Morgan – “The Boxtrolls” (Focus Features)

Zoe Saldana – “The Book of Life” (20th Century Fox)