NAACP Image Awards | Thursday February 12, 2009
Did You Know?
- 1909
On February 12th, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a multiracial group of activists, who answered "The Call," in New York, New York. They initially called themselves the National Negro Committee. - 1913
In April, Dr. Joel E. Spingarn instituted the Spingarn Medal, a gold medal that was to be awarded annually to an American Negro of łhighest achievement˛ for the proceeding year or years. - 1939
On April 9th, after the Daughters of the American Revolution barred Marian Anderson from performing at their Constitutional Hall in Washington DC, the NAACP successfully moved to have her appear at the Lincoln Memorial that Easter Sunday where more than seventy five thousand people attended the open air concert broadcast nationally by radio. - 1942
The Association worked with studio executives and politicians to establish an ad hoc committee with the major film studios to monitor the image and portrayal of African Americans on the silver screen. - 1960
Senator John F. Kennedy addressed an audience of seven thousand at the NAACP Civil Rights Rally at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, just four days before he secured the Democratic Presidential Nomination. - 1975
On August 6, President Ford signed H.R. 6219, amending and extending certain provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, culminating a two-year effort by the Washington Bureau and cooperating organizations. The 1974 Act extended protection of the right to register and vote to non-English speaking groups, especially Hispanics. - 1987
On the 25th anniversary of the use of federal troops to enforce integration of the Little Rockąs Central High, the NAACP reunited the Little Rock Nine and NAACP leader Daisy Bates at ceremonies at the Arkansas Capital. - 1991
Following the victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary by former Klansman and neo-Nazi David Duke, the NAACP Louisiana State Conference launched a voter registration and Get-Out-The-Vote campaign resulting in Dukeąs defeat. - 2006
As part of our on-going efforts to the diversity of emerging talent in Hollywood, the NAACP united with several networks to create Master Degree Writing Fellowships. - 2009
On February 12th, the 40th NAACP Image Awards aired live celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the NAACP to the day.
Hosts
Halle Berry
Critics and filmgoers first took notice of Halle Berry in her feature film debut, Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.” She went on to star opposite Warren Beatty in the socio-political comedy “Bulworth.” For her brilliant performance in “Monster’s Ball”, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as the SAG Award, the Berlin Silver Bear Award and was named Best Actress by the National Board of Review. Her other film credits include “Catwoman,” and the psychological thriller “Gothika,” which helped to cement her status as an international box-office draw. In 2002, Berry starred as “Jinx” in the James Bond feature “Die Another Day” opposite Pierce Brosnan, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Bond franchise and becoming the largest-grossing Bond film to date.
Other television credits include starring in the highly rated ABC mini-series “Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding” directed by Charles Burnett, as well as the title role in Alex Haley’s mini-series “Queen.” The latter performance earned Berry her first NAACP Image Awards for Best Actress. Berry also earned an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Awards for her extraordinary performance in HBO’s telefilm, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” which she also produced. Berry is currently filming the psychological thriller “Frankie and Alice” alongside Stellan Skarsgard. The film centers on a young woman (Berry) with multiple personality disorder who struggles to remain her true self and not give in to her racist alter-personality. Berry is also producing the film.
Currently, Berry is an International Spokesperson for Revlon, and devotes considerable time and support to numerous charitable and humanitarian causes and organizations.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry’s inspirational journey from the hard streets of New Orleans to the heights of Hollywood’s A-list is the stuff of American legend. Born into poverty and raised in a household scarred by abuse, Tyler fought from a young age to find the strength, faith and perseverance that would later form the foundations of his much-acclaimed plays, films, books and shows.
In early 2005, Tyler’s first feature film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” debuted at #1 nationwide and received four NAACP Image Awards nominations. In 2007, Tyler expanded his reach to television with the TBS series “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” the highest-rated original cable sitcom of all time that went on to become the top-rated new daily series in broadcast syndication in fall 2008. That year, the comedy also won three NAACP Image Awards, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series. Adding to his accomplishments, Perry recently opened Tyler Perry Studios which is the first African-American owned studio in the country.
In addition, he has been intimately involved in civil rights cases, including the trial of the Jena 6 in his home state of Louisiana and with charities that focus on helping the homeless such as America’s Second Harvest, the Atlanta Food Bank and Perry Place—a 20-home community Tyler built for survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Tyler Perry practices what he preaches, and what he preaches has endeared him to millions of fans drawn by that unique blend of spiritual hope and down-home humor that continues to shape his inspiring life story and extraordinary body of work. rved as the Presiding Officer of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ECOSOCC was formed to advise the African Union on issues related to African civil society. Dr. Maathai was honored with an appointment as Goodwill Ambassador to the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem, and was later named co-chair of the Congo Basin Forest Fund, where she serves in an advocacy role for the region's conservation and protection.
