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
Netflix Meets Earnings Expectations and Continues to Grow Subscription Base
Netflix reported earnings after the bell and hit on expectations. The company reported EPS of $0.41 and revenue of $3.286 billion. The streaming service did add far more customers than expected during the holiday season. Netflix gained 8.3 million subscribers globally, making Q4 a particularly strong quarter.
Between Bells: January 22, 2018
Between Bells: Government shutdown latest, women run for office in record numbers, all the latest from the Sundance Film Festival, and the biggest moments from the SAG Awards. With Rare Media, The Raw Story, CinemaBlend and more.
2018 SAG Awards Recap
After the SAG Awards, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is the unanimous front-runner heading into the Oscars. Cinemablend's Sean O'Connell joins Cheddar to break down the highlights from the acting community's biggest night.
Load More