PASADENA, Calif. — Angela Bassett won entertainer of the year at Saturday's NAACP Image Awards on a night that also saw her take home an acting trophy for the television series “9-1-1.”

The Bassett-led Marvel superhero sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” won best motion picture at the ceremony, which was broadcast live on BET from Pasadena, California.

Viola Davis won outstanding actress for the action epic “The Woman King,” a project she championed and starred in. Will Smith won for the slavery drama“Emancipation,” his first release since last year's Academy Awards, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage before winning his first best actor trophy.

“I never want to not be brave enough as a woman, as a Black woman, as an artist," Davis said, referencing a quote from her character in the film, which she called her magnum opus. “I thank everyone who was involved with ‘The Woman King’ because that was just nothing but high-octane bravery.”

“Abbott Elementary” won for outstanding comedy series. Creator and series star Quinta Brunson invited her costars onstage and praised shows like “black-ish” for paving the way for her series.

The 54 NAACP Image Awards were presented Saturday in Pasadena, California, with Queen Latifah hosting. Serena Williams received the Jackie Robinson Sports award, which recognizes individuals in sports for high achievement in athletics along with their pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement.

The ceremony, which honors entertainers, athletes and writers of color, was hosted by Queen Latifah. Special honorees included Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union and civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Share:
More In Culture
Planning Your Wedding With Alexa
Dhanusha Sivajee, EVP of marketing and editorial at "The Knot" owner XO Group, said that those soon to walk down the aisle are more and more planning their weddings on mobile apps.
Shaping the Future of Business
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, speaks with Cheddar's Kristen Scholer at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit. Blakely talks about her success and shares her advice for young entrepreneurs.
Snapchat's Teen Revolt
Taylor Lorenz, technology reporter at The Daily Beast, discusses Snapchat's new app redesign sparking fierce criticism from teens.
Love, Marriage and a Joint Bank Account
Tim Stenovec talks to husband and wife duo Talaat and Tai McNeely about when to bring up finances with your partner and what you need to be teaching your kids. The couple founded HisandHerMoney.com after Tai helped Talaat pay off $30,000 in debt!
Blending Marriage and Finance
With marriage comes huge financial burden, but it can also benefit you in the long run. Kim Palmer, Personal Finance Expert at NerdWallet, joins Your Cheddar to discuss merging your bank accounts after walking down the aisle.
Love in the Digital Era
Dhanusha Sivajee, EVP of Marketing and Editorial at XO Group, rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in celebration of Valentine's Day.
The Crazy Amount of Money America Spends on Valentine's Day
Americans are expected to spend a near-record $20 billion this Valentine's Day, but what are they shelling out all that money for? Lisa Rowan, Writer at The Penny Hoarder, joins Your Cheddar to discuss how you can keep the love in your wallet this Valentine's Day.
Closing Bell: February 13, 2018
Chipotle announces a new CEO. Dominos and Tinder and teaming up for Valentine's Day. The Director of National Intelligence sounds the alarm on Russia and the midterms elections. Sarah Kauss is the CEO of water bottle company S'well. Her small idea has turned into one of the most successful female-run businesses. Legal technology platform CannaRegs is on a mission to make sense of the legal landscape of marijuana for stakeholders in this growing space. Vermont Governor Phil Scott is asking legislators in his state to speed up equal pay legislation.
Load More