This Saturday, the NAACP Image Awards 2022 were presented, honoring the achievements of people of color in film, TV, music and literature.
Jennifer Hudson was crowned with Entertainer of the Year, also picking up Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Respect. Outstanding Motion Picture went to Netflix’s The Harder They Fall, while Will Smith won Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams, in King Richard. HBO’s Insecure won Outstanding Comedy Series, while its creator-star Issa Rae picked up Outstanding Actress in a Comedy.
The show also included a stunning performance by nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige and appearances from stars like Issa Rae, Tiffany Haddish and Zendaya. The 53rd installment of the show was hosted by Anthony Anderson of Black-ish, who also won the Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series award. In his acceptance, Anderson stated, “If you dream and believe, anything is possible.”
This message of change was repeated throughout the event. In accepting the NAACP Chairman’s Award, Samuel Jackson urged viewers to continue the fight for voting rights. Nikole Hannah-Jones—creator of The 1619 Project—won the Social Justice Impact Award and reminded the audience that “politicians are using the power of the state to whitewash an already whitewashed history” and that “a healthy society does not ban ideas.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were awarded the President’s Award for their commitment to public service. Their nonprofit organization Archewell partnered with the NAACP to create the Oswell Digital Civil Rights Award to honor those working to create change with advocacy and technology, honoring Dr. Sophia Noble, co-founder of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, as the first recipient.
See below for the full list of televised winners. For the full list of winners, including those previously announced, visit naacpimageawards.net.
Entertainer of the year
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish
Outstanding motion picture
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros. Pictures)
King Richard (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
WINNER: The Harder They Fall (Netflix)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films)
Outstanding actor in a motion picture
Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth (Apple TV+ / A24)
Jonathan Majors – The Harder They Fall (Netflix)
LaKeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mahershala Ali – Swan Song (Apple TV+)
WINNER: Will Smith – King Richard (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding actress in a motion picture
Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films)
Halle Berry – Bruised (Netflix)
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson – Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Tessa Thompson – Passing (Netflix)
Zendaya – Malcolm & Marie (Netflix)
Outstanding comedy series
black-ish (ABC)
Harlem (Amazon Studios)
WINNER: Insecure (HBO)
Run the World (Starz)
The Upshaws (Netflix)
Outstanding actor in a comedy series
WINNER: Anthony Anderson – black-ish (ABC)
Cedric the Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Don Cheadle – Black Monday (Showtime)
Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams – The Wonder Years (ABC)
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding actress in a comedy series
WINNER: Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)
Loretta Devine – Family Reunion (Netflix)
Regina Hall – Black Monday (Showtime)
Tracee Ellis Ross – black-ish (ABC)
Yvonne Orji – Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding actor in a drama series
Billy Porter – Pose (FX Network)
Damson Idris – Snowfall (FX Network)
Forest Whitaker – Godfather of Harlem (EPIX)
Kofi Siriboe – Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
WINNER: Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding actress in a drama series
WINNER: Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Dawn-Lyen Gardner – Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Octavia Spencer – Truth Be Told (Apple TV+)
Queen Latifah – The Equalizer (CBS)
Rutina Wesley – Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)