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 ŗhighest 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 Rockšs 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 Dukešs 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.
Presidents Award Recipient
Muhammad Ali
As a boxer, Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to his sport, while his charm and wit forever changed what the public expected of a champion. His accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of legend as he became the first three-time world heavyweight champion.
There was always far more to the man than what took place within the confines of the ring. Ališs life and career have been played out as much on the front pages of newspapers as on the inside of sports pages.
His early relationship with the Nation of Islam and his insistence on being called Muhammad Ali instead of his "slave name," Cassius Clay, heralded a new era in black pride. His refusal to be inducted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era foreshadowed the growing antiwar movement of the 1960s. He became an influential figure in the civil rights movement, inspiring millions of Americans toward political change, with his outspoken but ultimately widely-respected statements and actions. His willingness to stage well publicized fights in such far-flung locales as Kinshasa, Manila and Kuala Lumpur signaled a shift from superpower dominance to a growing awareness of the developing world.
Daring to go against the political establishment to help people in need, Ali has made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea; delivered sorely-needed medical supplies to an embargoed Cuba; traveled to Iraq to secure the release of 15 American hostages during the first Gulf War; and journeyed to South Africa to meet with Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison. In the last two decades, Ali has been instrumental in providing more than 232 million meals to the world's hungry. Traveling across continents, he has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D'Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico and Morocco, among other countries.
In addition to his international efforts, Ali is equally devoted to helping causes at home. He holds an annual fundraiser, Fight Night, to raise millions of dollars for Parkinsonšs disease research and treatment. He testified before the United States Senate advocating for more federal funds to find a cure for the disease. He is also an advocate and the namesake of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal law that regulates professional boxing to protect athletes from unscrupulous promoters, as well as poor health and bout conditions. He has appeared before committees of the U.S. Senate several times regarding boxing reform.
The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentuckyan international center and interactive museum devoted to promoting the driving principles of Ališs lifeis the realization of his dream to help spread the message of peace, understanding and tolerance around the world. The center opened in 2005 just days after Muhammad Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United Statesš highest civilian honor.
