52nd NAACP Image Awards

American entertainment awards for 2020 works
52nd NAACP Image Awards
DateMarch 27, 2021 (main televised ceremony)

March 22–26, 2021

(non-televised awards)
Hosted byAnthony Anderson
Official websiteNAACPImageAwards.net
Television coverage
NetworkBET
BET Her
CBS
CMT
Comedy Central
Logo
MTV
MTV2
Paramount Network
Pop
Pluto TV
Smithsonian Channel
TV Land
VH1 (simulcast)

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2020 calendar year. The ceremony aired on March 27, 2021, on BET and simulcast on several of its sister ViacomCBS Networks, with CBS airing the ceremony for the first time.[1] The ceremony was hosted for the eighth time by actor Anthony Anderson. Presentations of untelevised categories were livestreamed between March 22–26, 2021 on the ceremony's website.[2]

The nominations were announced on February 4, 2021.[3] During the ceremony, the Hall of Fame Award was given to Eddie Murphy for "his contributions to the African-American film industry",[4] LeBron James was awarded with the President's Award for "his contributions in the fight for social justice",[5] and Rev. D. James Lawson was awarded with the Chairman's Award "to recognize his work as a social change advocate and his significant contributions to the civil rights movement, specifically the essential role in the south's nonviolent protests in the 1960s".[6] For the first time in the history of the awards ceremony, categories were created to honor animated works in film and television, and the category for voice-over work was broken into two separate categories, respectively for film and television.

All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in bold.

Special awards

Eddie Murphy is the 37th person to be included in the NAACP Hall of Fame Award, the first since 2009.
LeBron James was honored with the President's Award.
Stephen Curry is the 9th person to be honored with the NAACP Jackie Robinson Sports Award.
Hall of Fame Award
President's Award
Chairman's Award
  • Rev. James Lawson
Entertainer of the Year
D-Nice
Social Justice Impact Award
Jackie Robinson Sports Award

Motion picture

Outstanding Motion Picture Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding International Motion Picture Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
    • Da 5 Bloods
    • Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
    • Soul
    • The Banker
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Outstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action) Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
  • Black Boy Joy
    • Baldwin Beauty
    • Gets Good Light
    • Home
    • & Mrs. Ellis
  • Canvas
    • Cops and Robbers
    • Loop
    • The Power of Hope
    • Windup
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

Television and streaming

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Comedy

Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
  • Self Made
    • Hamilton
    • Little Fires Everywhere
    • Sylvie's Love
    • The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
  • Geri Cole — The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special
    • Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle, Emily Goldwyn, Rodney Carter, Rob Haze, Will Miles & Zuri Salahuddin — Sherman's Showcase ("Black History Month Spectacular")
    • Eugene Ashe — Sylvie's Love
    • Lin-Manuel MirandaHamilton
    • Sylvia L. Jones & Camille Tucker — The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel

Television or Motion Picture

Outstanding Writing in a Documentary Outstanding Directing in a Documentary
  • Melissa HaizlipMr. SOUL!
    • Mary Mazzio, A Most Beautiful Thing
    • Nile Cone, The Beat Don't Stop
    • Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story
    • Yoruba Richen, Elia Gasull Balada, Valerie Thomas, The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show
  • Keith McQuirter – By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
    • Muta'Ali, Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
    • Sam Pollard, Maro Chermayeff, Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2)
    • Simcha Jacobovici, Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
    • Yoruba Richen, The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show

Overall acting

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series) Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Television Series

Reality and variety

Outstanding Talk Series Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Series or Game Show
Outstanding News / Information – (Series or Special) Outstanding Host in a Talk or News / Information (Series or Special)
  • The New York Times Presents "The Killing of Breonna Taylor"
    • AM Joy: Remembering John Lewis Special
    • Desus & Mero: The Obama Interview
    • The Color of COVID
    • The ReidOut
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) Outstanding Host in a Reality, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special)

Other categories

Outstanding Short-Form Series (Drama or Comedy) Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form Series
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Reality/Nonfiction Ooutstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
  • Between The Scenes – The Daily Show
    • American Masters – Unladylike2020
    • Benedict Men
    • In the Making
    • Inspire Change Series
  • Raynelle Swilling – Cherish the Day
    • Katori Hall – P-Valley
    • Keith Knight – Woke
    • Ramy YoussefRamy
    • Teri Schaffer – Cherish the Day
Outstanding Animated Series Outstanding Children's Program
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Recording

Outstanding Album Outstanding New Artist
Outstanding Male Artist Outstanding Female Artist
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal
  • Music From and Inspired By SoulJon Batiste
    • Be WaterChristian Sands
    • Omega – Immanuel Wilkins
    • Reciprocity – George Burton
    • The Iconoclast– Barry Stephenson
  • Holy RoomLive at Alte Oper – Somi
    • Donny Duke and WonderNathan Mitchell
    • Pulling Off The Covers – Mike Phillips
    • Stronger – Jeff Bradshaw
    • The Eddy (From The Netflix Original Series) – Various artists
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
Outstanding International Song Outstanding Producer of the Year

Literary

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
  • "We're Better Than This" – Elijah Cummings
  • "A Knock at Midnight" – Brittany Barnett
  • "Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World" – Cole Brown
  • "Lakewood" – Megan Giddings
  • "The Compton Cowboys" – Walter Thompson-Hernandez
  • "The Dead Are Arising" – Les Payne, Tamara Payne
  • "A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team" – Arshay Cooper
  • "A Promised Land" – Barack Obama
  • "Olympic Pride, American Prejudice" – Deborah Draper
  • "Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player" – Willie O'Ree
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
  • "Vegetable Kingdom" – Bryant Terry
  • "Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Space" – Valerie Harrison
  • "Living Lively" – Haile Thomas
  • "The Black Foster Youth Handbook" – Ángela Quijada-Banks
  • "The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith–Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally" – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Outstanding Literary Work – Children Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
  • "She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm" – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez
  • "I Promise" – LeBron James, Nina Mata
  • "Just Like a Mama" – Alice Faye Duncan, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
  • "Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice" – Nikki Grimes, Laura Freeman
  • "The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver" – Gene Barretta, Frank Morrison

References

  1. ^ Jackson, Angelique (2021-03-23). "Barack Obama, 'The Last Dance,' 'John Lewis: Good Trouble' Earn NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  2. ^ Davis, Clayton (2021-02-02). "Viola Davis, Tyler Perry and Regina King Up for Entertainer of the Year at 2021 NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  3. ^ Gibbs, Adrienne. "Netflix, HBO Lead NAACP Image Awards 2021 Nominations". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. ^ "Eddie Murphy Inducted Into NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame". Vanity Fair. 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  5. ^ "LeBron James Honored With President's Award at 2021 NAACP Image Awards | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  6. ^ "REVEREND JAMES LAWSON ANNOUNCED AS RECIPIENT OF CHAIRMAN'S AWARD FOR 52nd NAACP IMAGE AWARDS". MYURBANNEWS. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

External links

  • NAACP Image Awards official site
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Motion pictureTelevision
Drama Series
Comedy Series
Movie, Miniseries,
or Dramatic Special
MusicLiterature
Special awardsDefunct awardsAward ceremonies
(year honored)