February 14, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA
airing on Fox
Established in 1967, at the height of the civil rights movement, the NAACP Image Awards is the nation's premier event to honor outstanding black actors, actresses, writers, producers and directors.
But the NAACP had long been involved in the continuing struggle for greater participation by African Americans in the entertainment industry. This effort began in 1915 when the organization launched a nationwide protest against the showing of the movie "Birth of a Nation" by D. W. Griffith. The film set in the period immediately after the Civil War, depicted black people as savages and the reconstruction era as a period of corruption. It remains one of the most controversial films ever made. In response to the NAACP's crusade against "Birth of a Nation," independent black filmmakers, like the legendary Oscar Micheaux, defied stereotypes by creating movies that portrayed blacks in a positive light.
Although society has changed greatly since that time—as a record number of African Americans are winning numerous coveted, mainstream awards—the lack of racial diversity in the entertainment industry still exists. There is a need for more minority talent in front of and behind the scenes.
Presented annually, the NAACP Image Awards are an exciting, star-studded salute to the best in entertainment. Honorees, presenters and performers have included many of the major celebrities in America as well as international political figures and dignitaries. There are 36 competitive categories in the fields of motion picture, television, music and literature. There are also several honorary awards including the Chairman's Award, The President's Award and The Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Event Sponsors:
FedEx returns as a major sponsor this year. Additional sponsors include American Airlines, Allstate Insurance Company, Best Buy, Chevrolet, Ford Motor Company, Sprint, Wachovia Corporation and Diageo
NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free:
(877) NAACP-98
Local:
(410) 580-5777
© 2008 NAACP
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