Queen Latifah Wins at the 56th NAACP Image Awards for "The Equalizer"
/Broadway Stages has been the production studio partner-of-choice for CBS's hit action series "The Equalizer" since it premiered in 2021. Last weekend, we were thrilled to see the show's star Queen Latifah win the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Latifah earned nominations in the category each of the last three years, but the fourth time was the charm as she finally took home the statuette.
The NAACP Image Awards honor the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in various forms of media, including film, television, and literature. The first ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton in 1967. Comedian Deon Cole hosted this year's event, the 56th annual NAACP Image Awards, which was broadcast on both CBS and BET Saturday night.
Keke Palmer won the night's most coveted prize, Entertainer of the Year. The actress and singer was also awarded Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show, or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble for her work on NBC's "Password."
Malcolm Washington's adaptation of the August Wilson play "The Piano Lesson" entered the night leading the motion picture categories with 14 nominations, but Tyler Perry's historical drama "The Six Triple Eight" beat it out in the Outstanding Motion Picture race. The film about a Black female battalion in World War II won all five of the awards for which it earned nominations, including Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture and three individual acting awards.
Star Kerry Washington won her second NAACP Image Award in the category Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. She previously won for her performance in 2004's "Ray." She also won NAACP Image Awards for her supporting role in 2012's "Django Unchained" and her leading turn in ABC's drama series "Scandal" two years in a row (2013 and 2014).
Ebony Obsidian won two awards for her performance in "The Six Triple Eight" — Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture.
"The Piano Lesson" was not shut out altogether. Samuel L. Jackson won the race for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (his first of two wins of the night). He reprised his role from the 2023 Broadway revival, which earned him a Tony Award nomination. The film also won Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) for director Washington and Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture for 11-year-old Skylar Aleece Smith.
RaMell Ross's "Nickel Boys," which will compete for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at this Sunday's Oscars, also won multiple awards. Ross won Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture as well as Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (shared with co-writer Joslyn Barnes). The film, which is an adaptation of Colson Whitehead's 2019 novel "The Nickel Boys," also won an award for cinematographer Jomo Fray.
In the television categories, ABC's "Abbott Elementary" triumphed in two categories—
Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Quinta Brunson.
CBS comedy "Poppa's House" also won two awards, with Damon Wayans winning Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series and his son Damon Wayans Jr. winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. It was a good night for the Wayans family, as members of the talented crew, including Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Marlon, Shawn, Kim, and Damon Jr., were inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame.
Entering the evening, Peacock's "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" led all television programs with nine nominations. The crime drama limited series fictionalizing an armed robbery at a party on the night of Muhammad Ali's 1970 comeback fight would go on to win four, including Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie), Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film), and two acting awards.
Samuel L. Jackson won his second prize of the night, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie). He has won six NAACP Image Awards over his long career. His co-star Taraji P. Henson took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie). The multitalented actress was also honored in a literary category, winning Outstanding Literary Work – Children for her book "You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil Tj Book." She has now won 15 NAACP Image Awards, including 14 individual awards.
Other series that won multiple awards include Netflix's "Rebel Ridge," which won Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie) for Aaron Pierre and Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film); Prime Video's "Cross," which won Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for Ben Watkins; and Starz's "Power Book II: Ghost," which won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Michael Rainey Jr. and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Cliff Smith, better known as Method Man.
Several special awards were also presented throughout the evening, including the NAACP President's Award that went to comedy legend Dave Chappelle. Recipients are selected annually by the NAACP president in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.
Jotaka Eaddy, the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, LLC, was honored with the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award. Full Circle Strategies is a social impact consulting firm committed to advancing transformative change and global impact.
A notable moment of the evening was the first televised appearance by former Vice President Kamala Harris since leaving office. Upon receiving the NAACP Chairman's Award, she urged viewers and audience members to focus on the future and not lose hope.
Quoting W.E.B. Du Bois, she said, "It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year." She went on to say, "This sense of urgency is what we must have today knowing, as the saying goes, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Check out the full list of winners here. Congratulations to all of the honorees!
About the NAACP Image Awards:
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color across more than 80 competitive categories spanning film, television, streaming, music, literature, and podcasts.
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