‘The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story’, ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Blackish’, and Beyonce Wins Big at NAACP Image Awards

By Danny R. Johnson
San Diego County News’ Entertainment News Editor

LOS ANGELES – Moonlight, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and Beyonce were big winners at the 48th Annual NAACP Image Awards handed out over two nights. Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, EMMY winner Viola Davis, Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, GRAMMY and Academy Award winner John Legend, Laverne Cox, Jussie Smollett, Barry Jenkins, Laurence Fishburne and more were in attendance at the Pasadena Conference Center where the awards were handed out.

The majority of the awards were announced during a non-televised gala on Friday, February 10, with nine categories announced during the live show on February 11, which was hosted by Blackish star Anthony Anderson. The show was broadcasted from the Pasadena, CA Conference Center on the TV One Cable Network.

There was one notable remark by Sterling K. Brown, who took home the award for “Best Outstanding Actor in a Drama” for his role on This is Us praised Moonlight for being an important film people everywhere should embrace. According to the Hollywood Reporter while backstage talking with the press, Brown was quoted as saying:

“I’m not sure people are seeing Moonlight the way they need to. I know critics are.” I remember in the theater in St. Louis a few minutes went by and one person walked out, maybe it was two, and they said and I quote this they said ‘this is some gay shit’ and they walked out. I’m looking forward to the point in life when it’s not gay, it’s human and people are recognizing the power and the importance of different human beings and what it’s like to struggle to find one’s voice and be on the outside.”

Moonlight took home four awards including Mahershala Ali’s win for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” and “Outstanding Independent Picture.” Director Barry Jenkins nabbed wins for “Outstanding Writing” and “Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture,” edging out Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation which earned its first major recognition this awards season taking up six NAACP Image Award nominations.

Thanks to her Lemonade album, Beyonce took home five awards for “Outstanding Female Artist”, music video (“Formation”), and album. Her song “Freedom” featuring Kendrick Lamar earned won for “Outstanding Duo and “Outstanding Song – Contemporary.”

Viola Davis continued her awards season winning streak, receiving the award for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” for Fences. Davis’ Fences co-star Denzel Washington also won for “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.”

Among TV contenders, Black-ish scored six wins including Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson for “Outstanding Actress/Actor in a Comedy”, Laurence Fishburne for “Outstanding Supporting Actor”, Marsai Martin for “Outstanding Performance by a Youth”, and Kenya Barris for “Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.” The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, tied with three wins as well where John Singleton and Courtney B. Vance received gestures for “Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special” and “Outstanding Director in a Drama Series.”

In the TV categories, ABC led with 23 nominations, with HBO in second place with 14.

The NAACP Image Awards recognize achievements by people of color in TV, music, literature and film and honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

The winners announced during the NAACP Image Awards gala follows:

Entertainer of the Year

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Television

Outstanding Comedy Series: “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Laurence Fishburne – “`black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Drama Series: “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Taraji P. Henson – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)
 
 Motion Pictures 

Outstanding Motion Picture: “Hidden Figures”

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Denzel Washington – “Fences”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Mahershala Ali – “Moonlight”

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Taraji P. Henson – “Hidden Figures”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis – “Fences”

Music Recording  

Outstanding New Artist: Chance the Rapper (Chance the Rapper)

Outstanding Male Artist: Maxwell (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist: Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration: “Freedom” — Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Jazz Album: “Latin American Songbook” – Edward Simon (Sunnyside)

Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary): “One Way” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann, Inc.)

Outstanding Music Video: “Formation” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records/ParkwoodEntertainment)

Outstanding Song – Traditional: “I See A Victory” — Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams (I Am Other/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Album: “Lemonade” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records/ParkwoodEntertainment)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary: “Freedom” — Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment)

The winners of the Non-Televised Categories for the 48th NAACP Image Awards are:

Television Categories

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Laurence Fishburne – “`black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special — “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special — Courtney B. Vance – “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special — Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) — “BET Love and Happiness White House Special” (BET)

Outstanding Talk Series — “Steve Harvey” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series — “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special) — “2016 Black Girls Rock” (BET)

Outstanding Children’s Program — “An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win”(Amazon)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series) — Marsai Martin – “`black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety Program (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble — Roland S. Martin – “NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin”(TV One)

Recording Categories

Outstanding New Artist — Chance the Rapper (Chance the Rapper)

Outstanding Male Artist — Maxwell (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist — Beyoncé (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration — “Freedom” – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Jazz Album — “Latin American Songbook” – Edward Simon (Sunnyside)

Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) — “One Way” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann, Inc.)

Outstanding Music Video — “Formation” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records/ParkwoodEntertainment)

Outstanding Song – Traditional — “I See A Victory” – Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams (I Am Other/Columbia Records)

Outstanding Album — “Lemonade” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records/ParkwoodEntertainment)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary — “Freedom” – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment)

Literature Categories

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction — “The Book of Harlan” – Bernice L. McFadden (AkashicBooks)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction — “Hidden Figures” – Margot Lee Shetterly (HarperCollinsPublishers/William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author — “Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” –Trevor Noah (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography — Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” –Trevor Noah (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional — “The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage” – Daymond John (Author), Daniel Paisner (With), (Crown Business/The Crown Publishing Group)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry — “Collected Poems: 1974-2004” – Rita Dove (W. W. Norton & Company)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children — “Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas” – Gwendolyn Hooks (Author), Colin Bootman(Illustrator) (Lee & Low Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens — “As Brave As You” – Jason Reynolds (Simon & Schuster (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books))

Motion Picture Categories

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — Mahershala Ali – “Moonlight” (A24)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture — Viola Davis – “Fences” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture — “Moonlight” (A24)

Documentary Categories

Outstanding Documentary – (Film) — “13TH” (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary – (Television) — “Roots: A New Vision” (History)

Writing Categories

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series — Kenya Barris – “`black-ish” – Hope (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series — Ava DuVernay – “Queen Sugar” – First Things First (OWN)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television) — Charles Murray – “Roots” – Night 3 (History)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film) — Barry Jenkins – “Moonlight” (A24)

Directing Categories

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Donald Glover – “Atlanta” – Value (FX)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series — John Singleton – “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” – The Race Card (FX)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) — Rick Famuyiwa – “Confirmation” (HBO)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film) — Barry Jenkins – “Moonlight” (A24)

Animated or Computer Generated Image (CGI) Category

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film) — Idris Elba – “The Jungle Book” (Walt Disney Studios)