CELEBRATING30 YEARS!

champion through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while a student at Tougaloo College – a private historically black college in Jackson, Miss. He organized voter registration drives for African-Americans throughout the Mississippi Delta on behalf of the organization before graduating and following in the footsteps of his mother

“Each honoree chosen for recognition has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in her or his respective profession or endeavor and in some significant measure has contributed towards creating a more just society in this country,” says Black Star News founder and publisher Milton Allimadi. “Obviously much work needs to be done here and around the world.”

"Congressman Bennie Thompson is a voting rights icon with a remarkable career in politics spanning over three decades," said Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors "As the Chairman of the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Thompson has worked tirelessly to protect and serve our country. His continued public service and advocacy for social change make him an excellent recipient for the Chairman's Award."

"Benjamin Crump is not just an attorney, but a courageous advocate and force of nature in the fight for freedom and equality," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP "He has worked tirelessly to provide a voice for the voiceless and continues to inspire the next generation of civil rights attorneys. We're proud to honor him with the Social Justice Impact Award."

"Congressman Thompson and Attorney Crump are among the most deserving recipients of these prestigious NAACP Chairman's and Social Justice Awards, both demonstrating an unwavering commitment to furthering the civil rights agenda," said Scott Mills, President and CEO, BET "Each year, the NAACP Image Awards presents an opportunity for us to amplify the incredible contributions

The gala starts at 6:00pm with a cocktail hour to be followed by the dinner and awards ceremonies. There will be musical entertainment by opera singer Cassandra Douglas and from harmonica phenomenon William Galison. David Dinkins is honored for Lifetime Achievement — he was New York City’s first African American mayor and also welcomed Nelson Mandela to the city after his release in 1990. Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored for Lifetime Achievement, has served in Congress since 1971. He is a recipient of The Bronze medal for helping save soldiers behind enemy line during the Korean War Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from New York whose 9th district covers much of central Brooklyn. Before entering Congress in 2007, she racial inequality, Rep.Thompson draws inspiration from the legacies of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry and Henry Kirksey. The Bolton, Mississippi native considers it an honor to walk the path Mississippi civil rights icons paved decades ago.

R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is a leading developer and founder of The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest African American-owned real estate firm with $3.5 billion worth of properties under development or management — he was one of the pioneering developerswho helped turn around and revitalize the once-blighted Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C. A champion of African-American economic empowerment Peebles’ is contemplating a possible run for NYC mayor in 2017.

Serving his 15th term in the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Thompson represents Mississippi's Second Congressional District where he has spent his entire life fighting to improve the lives of all people. He is the longestserving African-American elected official in the State of Mississippi and the lone Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation.

Rep. Thompson began his grassroots political activism being a civil rights

Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil rights lawyer, is a champion of protecting voting rights of ethnic minority groups — the emerging

Transformative Justice Coalition. Arnwine was for 26 years executive Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. , honoree, formerly a member, is now council member and a champion of education for established himself as one of the nation's foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice, winning a number of record settlements and verdicts for victims and families that have faced injustice. He has worked on some of the most highprofile cases in the U.S., most recently representing the family of Tyre Nichols, as well as the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, the residents of Flint, Michigan, who were severely affected by the pollution of the Flint River, and the family of Henrietta Lacks in a landmark reparations case. In 2021, St. Thomas University College of Law announced the Benjamin L. Crump Center for Social Justice in his honor, which will open doors for minority students pursuing law degrees. His book, published in October 2019, Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People, reflects on the landmark cases he has battled, and how discrimination in the courthouse devastates real families and communities. He is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law by becoming a school teacher. During his tenure educating the youth of Mississippi, a fire inside of Thompson was ignited pushing him to be a voice to the voiceless through elected office.

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system. Pioneering producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones, through their company Front Row Production, brought “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” with a multi-ethnic cast to Broadway. In 2016 they bring “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.

This year's Social Justice Impact Award will go to Attorney Benjamin Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights lawyer. Listed amongst the Most Influential People of 2021 by TIME100, Ebony Magazine's Power 100 Most Influential African Americans, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and the 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, Ben Crump is referred to as "Black America's Attorney General."

Imhotep Gary Byrd is a legendary radio talk show host and executive producer, radio DJ, poet, songwriter, music recording artist and producer, rapper, writer and community activist. He began his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s been a talk show host at WBLS and WLIB radio in New York City. He also has a Friday night radio talk show on WBAI

Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founder of World of Money, is a champion of financial literacy for youth-- she teaches knowledge about handling money, budgeting and planning.

Honorees, the so-called Central Park 5, are collectively and individually heroes. They are survivors of one of the ugliest miscarriage of justice in New York’s history; having been railroaded and unjustly convicted for a crime they did not commit and for which they served long prison sentences ranging from seven years to 13 years before being exonerated when the actual rapist confessed. They are: Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, and Kharey Wise. The Black Star News, which focuses on investigative journalism, has been featured as a result of some if its news scoops, on CNN, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s Content magazine.

The public can now vote to determine the winners of the "54th NAACP Image Awards" by visiting www. naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 10, 2023. Winners will be revealed during the "54th NAACP Image Awards'' telecast on February 25, 2023 on BET. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories virtually February 20-23 on www.naacpimageawards.net and at an Awards Dinner and Program February 24. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards. The "54th NAACP Image Awards" is presented by Wells Fargo and sponsored by AT&T, Bank of America, Gushers, Lowe's, Airbnb, FedEx, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service, renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Crump has

Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of the nation’s leading educators. He’s president of Medgar Evers College of The City University of New

Source: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Past Black Star News honorees have included: Gil Noble (Like It Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William Pollard (Medgar Evers College), Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Fountain (Columbia University), Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National Action Network), and many others.