ABOUT THE NAACP

Issues surrounding minority representation in the film industry continued throughout the Civil Rights Movement, with a lack of employment opportunities also being questioned. Despite the monumental events that had taken place in the movements for equal education, voting rights, women’s rights, and employment laws, the entertainment industry would remain curiously intransigent in many ways for decades to come.

When the television networks unveiled their 1999-2000 fall season lineup of 26 new shows with zero actors of color in starring or leading roles—a key moment in Hollywood history dubbed by some in the media as the great “whiteout” of 1999— the NAACP initiated an ongoing campaign not only to address the lack of minority representation on TV, but also the lack of employment opportunities for all people of color behind the scenes.

As a result, in 1999, the networks signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NAACP and its Coalition partners. The purpose of the Coalition is to advance the cause of diversity in the entertainment industry, and to create milestones by which future progress in Hollywood can be measured— milestones that are still used today. Additionally, this historic agreement focused on implementing initiatives across all areas of the networks’ operations. Members of the Coalition include the NAACP, Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, National Latino Media Coalition and American Indians in Film and Television.

Soon after the signing of the MOU, then-President Mfume became convinced it was the right time to create an official NAACP Hollywood entity to better support and pursue a standing diversity initiative. Established in 2002, the NAACP Hollywood Bureau is charged with holding the entertainment industry accountable for advancing diversity in front of and behind the camera. The office works to expand opportunities not only for African Americans, but also Asian Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and others.

The Bureau leads the way in the NAACP’s proud tradition of monitoring the media as a form of social advocacy. Aside from managing the NAACP Image Awards, the Bureau consistently meets with movie studios, networks, guilds, labor unions and others in pursuit of more diverse programming and greater employment opportunities for people of color across the entertainment industry.

While progress has been made, there is still much to do. NAACP Image Awards recipient Kerry Washington communicated this sentiment beautifully as she accepted her President’s Award honor onstage at the 45th gala in 2014.

“Just as we must ensure that ‘We, the people’ includes all Americans regardless of race, class, gender and sexual orientation,” Washington shared, “we must also work to ensure that the stories we tell, the movies we make, the television we produce, the theatre we stage, the novels we publish are inclusive in all those same ways.”

Considering the diverse roots of the NAACP’s founders—a group of White, Jewish, and AfricanAmerican men and women who were inspired to action by the 1908 race riot in President Abraham Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois— it is fitting that the NAACP Image Awards continues its work towards greater inclusion for all members of the creative communities, and better quality news and entertainment programming for the audiences they serve each and every day.

The NAACP Image Awards initially broadcasted locally in Los Angeles on KHJ-TV (currently known as KCAL-TV).

In an effort for all of America to be educated on the diverse talents and contributions of African Americans in the industry and beyond, Willis Edwards, former president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch of the NAACP, persuaded thenNBC President Brandon Tartikoff to nationally broadcast the 19th NAACP Image Awards, which was held at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on December 14, 1986.

Originally, the Image Awards aired in a late night slot on NBC, but in subsequent years, audiences were able to view the show during primetime on FOX as well as on NBC. Then, from 2014 to 2019, the NAACP collaborated with TV One to air the Image Awards. This multi-layered relationship with the Black-owned network increased the visibility of the NAACP and brought more attention to its key message of promoting and protecting the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens in this country.

For the third consecutive year, the NAACP has partnered with BET Networks to broadcast the Image Awards, which will air live during a two-hour special on Saturday, February 26th, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 Central. The virtual ceremony will recognize winners in selected categories and honor special award recipients for their activism.