Ava Duvernay Wins Big! Highlights from the 2018 NAACP Image Awards
It was a star-studded and fun-filled ceremony for the 49th NAACP Images Awards. Host Anthony Anderson opened the show saying it’s "Oprah for President headquarters." The audience roared!
"Can you believe Oprah's speech? Now that's what you call a 'stable genius,'" he said in ref to Oprah Winfrey's viral Globes acceptance speech. "I know Donald Trump calls himself one, but I think it would be best if we just locked him up … in a stable."
Since the Awards were held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the ceremony included many presenters and winners who directly mentioned Dr. King in their remarks.
Several actresses took to the stage for a special #TimesUp presentation: Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lena Waithe, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox and Angela Robinson encouraged the audience to "shift the balance of power" by voting in this year's upcoming midterm elections.
At one point, Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) turned the audience’s attention to her guest Esaw Garner, the mother of the late Eric Garner, who was killed by police in 2014. "This is my friend and she's here from New York," said Waters. "And we're fighters and we appreciate Martin Luther King Jr. and all that he's done but we're gonna impeach Trump!" #StayWoke
But mostly, it was about the entertainers and winners. Director Ava DuVernay took the top prize of Entertainer of the Year, while Danny Glover was honored with the prestigious NAACP President’s Award.
Glover said, "In proclaiming this decade, we are recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be protected and honored," he said. "James Baldwin stated that when we cannot tell ourselves the truth about our past, we become trapped in it. This is especially true about race in America."
Daniel Kaluuya won for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in Jordan Peele’s thriller Get Out. “I don’t think you’re allowed to beat Denzel Washington in acting competition!” Kaluuya joked during his acceptance speech. This was his first time winning an NAACP Image Award.
Here’s a list of the big winners.
Entertainer of the year
Ava DuVernay
Outstanding actor in a motion picture
Daniel Kaluuya -- "Get Out"
Outstanding actress in a motion picture
Octavia Spencer -- "Gifted"
Outstanding motion picture
"Girls Trip"
Outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture
Idris Elba -- "Thor: Ragnarok"
Outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture
Tiffany Haddish -- "Girls Trip"
Outstanding independent motion picture
"Detroit"
Outstanding actor in a comedy series
Anthony Anderson -- "black-ish"
Outstanding actress in a comedy series
Tracee Ellis Ross -- "black-ish"
Outstanding comedy series
"black-ish"
Outstanding actor in a drama series
Omari Hardwick -- "Power"
Outstanding actress in a drama series
Taraji P. Henson -- "Empire"
Outstanding drama series
"Power"
President’s Award
Danny Glover
And lastly, the goodbyes.
What was your favorite moment from the ceremony? Tell us!
