Skip to main content
51ST NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
Press Statement February 22, 2020

NAACP Announced the Winners of the 51st NAACP Image Awards Hosted by Anthony Anderson on Saturday, February 22nd

51ST NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

Rihanna Received the President's Award and U.S. Congressman and Civil Rights Leader John Lewis was Honored with the NAACP Chairman's Award during the Live Ceremony

The Star Studded Evening Featured Appearances from Angela Bassett, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jamie Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, Deon Cole, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, Lena Waithe, Leslie Odom Jr., Lizzo, Lynn Whitfield, Marsai Martin, Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Sterling K. Brown, Tamron Hall, Tichina Arnold, Winston Duke, Yara Shahidi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Robin Thede, Brie Larson, Chloe Bailey and Harold Perrineau

Powerful Performances by Jill Scott and H.E.R. with Skip Marley

LOS ANGELES (February 22, 2020) — Tonight, the NAACP celebrated the stellar achievements of the 51st NAACP Image Awards winners during a special ceremony which was broadcasted live on BET Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT from the Pasadena Civic Center Auditorium. Winners of the night included Lizzo (Entertainer of the Year), Angela Bassett (Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series - "9-1-1"), Jamie Foxx (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – "Just Mercy"), Lupita Nyong'o (Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture – "Us"), Marsai Martin (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – "Little"), Tracee Ellis Ross (Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – "black-ish") and "Just Mercy" (Outstanding Motion Picture).

During the ceremony, NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, presented global music and fashion icon, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Rihanna, with the President's Award which is presented in recognition of a special achievement and distinguished public service.

Rihanna accepted the award saying "Thank you to the NAACP for all of your efforts to ensure equality for our communities. Thank you for celebrating our strength and tenacity. We've been denied opportunities since the beginning of time. Still, we prevail. so I'm honored. Imagine what we can do together. Thank you for this honor."

U.S. Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis (D-GA), was recognized with the NAACP Chairman's Award during the ceremony and sent in a special video accepting the award.

Jill Scott took to the stage with an electric performance of "Do You Remember" and "Is It The Way" and Skip Marley joined H.E.R for a medley of "Slide", "Slow Down" and "Turn THe Lights Down Low".

Additional guests in attendance included Brie Larson, Chloe Bailey, Deon Cole, Elaine Welteroth, Harold Perrineau, Janelle Monae, Lena Waithe, Leslie Odom Jr., Logan Browning, Lukka Sabbatt, Lynn Whitfield, Octavia Spencer, Robin Thede, Shahidi Wright Joseph, Sterling K. Brown, Tamron Hall, Tichina Arnold, Tiffany Haddish, Winston Dukes, Yara Shahidi, Yvette Nicole Brown.

See the full list of winners from the 51st NAACP Image Awards telecast below:

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross – "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett – "9-1-1" (FOX)

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Motion Picture

"Just Mercy" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Michael B. Jordan – "Just Mercy" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Lupita Nyong'o – "Us" (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Jamie Foxx – "Just Mercy" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Marsai Martin – "Little" (Universal Pictures)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Lizzo

Previously announced winners

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series

"black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Deon Cole – "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Marsai Martin – "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series

"Greenleaf" (OWN)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Omari Hardwick – "Power" (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Harold Perrineau – "Claws" (TNT)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Lynn Whitfield – "Greenleaf" (OWN)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

When They See Us (Netflix)

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

Jharrel Jerome – "When They See Us" (Netflix)

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

Niecy Nash – "When They See Us" (Netflix)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

"Unsung" (TV One)

Outstanding Talk Series

"Red Table Talk" (Facebook Watch)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show

"Rhythm + Flow" (Netflix)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

"Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé" (Netflix)

Outstanding Children's Program

"Family Reunion" (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)

Marsai Martin – "black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Jada Pinkett Smith – "Red Table Talk" (Facebook Watch)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) –

Individual or Ensemble

Steve Harvey – "Celebrity Family Feud" (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series

Kelly Rowland – "American Soul" (BET Networks)

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Album

"Homecoming: The Live Album" – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Outstanding New Artist

Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Song – Traditional

"SPIRIT" – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary

"Before I Let Go" – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

"Brown Skin Girl" – Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyoncé & WizKiD (Parkwood

Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

"Love & Liberation" – Jazzmeia Horn (Concord Jazz)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary)

"Love Theory" – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Records/RCA Records)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

"Juice" – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

"The Lion King: The Gift" – Beyoncé w/Various Artists (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia

Records)

LITERATURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

"The Revisioners" – Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counter Point Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction

"The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations" – Toni Morrison

(Alfred A. Knopf)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

"I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer" – Hal Banfield (Author), Javier Vasquez (Illustrator), (Literary Revolutionary)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography

"More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)" – Elaine Welteroth (Viking Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

"Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, And Opportunity For Black Women In America" – Karen Arrington (Author), Joanna Price (Illustrator), Sheryl Taylor (Forward) (Mango Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

"Felon: Poems" – Reginald Dwayne Betts (W.W. Norton Company)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

"Sulwe" – Lupita Nyong'o (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, BFYR)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

"Around Harvard Square" – C.J. Farley (Akashic Books)

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Marsai Martin – "Little" (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

"Just Mercy" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

"Dolemite is My Name" (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)

James Earl Jones – "The Lion King" (Walt Disney Studios)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

"Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am" (Magnolia Pictures)

Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special)

"Hitsville: The Making of Motown" (Showtime)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Cord Jefferson – "The Good Place" – Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy (NBC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Nichelle Tramble Spellman – "Truth Be Told" – Monster (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Suzan-Lori Parks – "Native Son" (HBO)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)

Jordan Peele – "Us" (Universal Pictures)

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Anya Adams – "GLOW" – Outward Bound (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson – "Power" – Forgot About Dre (STARZ)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Rashid Johnson – "Native Son (HBO)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)

Chiwetel Ejiofor – "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind"

 

Click here to access handout materials for editorial use.

Photos from the evening can be found here.

Courtesy: NAACP

###

About NAACP

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP's work and our six "Game Changer" issue areas at NAACP.org.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in nearly 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.

# # #

Press Contacts

NAACP Image Awards

Sunshine Sachs | NAACPImageAwards@SunshineSachs.com

(323) 822-9300