The 47th Image Awards, was presented by the
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...
, commemorating roles, talents, and achievements of
people of color in film, television, music and literature during the 2015 calendar year. This ceremony was hosted for the third time by
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson (born August 15, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and television host. He is known for his leading roles in television shows such as Andre "Dre" Johnson on the comedy series ''Black-ish'' (2014–2022), Marlin Boulet on the ...
on the
TV One network.
American singer, songwriter and record producer
John Legend
John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Every ...
received the
President's Award for his humanitarian efforts, promoting the
voting rights in the United States
Voting rights, specifically Suffrage, enfranchisement and disenfranchisement of different groups, have been a moral and political issue throughout United States history.
Eligibility to vote in the United States is governed by the United Sta ...
,
education
Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...
reform for all races and ethnicities and to be "widely read with respect to public policy reform, social justice reform and criminal justice reform". American actor and singer
Jussie Smollett,
Brittany "Bree" Newsome, Rev. Dr.
Otis Moss III, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesle, Rev. Dr.
Jamal Harrison Bryant and the institution The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter and Justice League NYC, were honored with the
Chairman's Award.
All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in bold.
Special Awards
Motion Picture
Awards adapted by
Variety.
Outstanding Motion Picture
* ''
Straight Outta Compton
''Straight Outta Compton'' is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group N.W.A, released on January 25, 1989, through Priority Records, Priority and Ruthless Records. It was Record producer, produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, a ...
''
* ''
Beasts of No Nation''
* ''
Concussion
A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...
''
* ''
Creed
A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets.
Many Christian denominations use three creeds ...
''
* ''
Dope''
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
* Michael B. Jordan - ''Creed''
*
Abraham Attah - ''Beasts of No Nation''
*
Chiwetel Ejiofor - ''
Secret in Their Eyes''
*
Michael Ealy
Michael David Brown (born August 3, 1973), known professionally as Michael Ealy, is an American actor. He is known for his roles in '' Barbershop'' (2002), '' 2 Fast 2 Furious'' (2003), '' Takers'' (2010), '' Think Like a Man'' (2012), '' Abou ...
- ''
The Perfect Guy''
*
Will Smith
Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, rapper, and film producer. Known for his work in both Will Smith filmography, the screen and Will Smith discography, music industries, List of awards and nominations re ...
- ''Concussion''
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
*
Sanaa Lathan - The Perfect Guy
*
Keke Palmer - ''
Brotherly Love''
*
Teyonah Parris - ''
Chi-Raq''
*
Viola Davis
Viola Davis ( ; born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and film producer. List of awards and nominations received by Viola Davis, Her accolades include both the Triple Crown of Acting and EGOT. ''Time (magazine), Time'' named her one of ...
- ''
Lila and Eve''
*
Zoe Saldana - ''
Infinitely Polar Bear''
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
*
O'Shea Jackson Jr. - ''Straight Outta Compton''
*
Chiwetel Ejiofor - ''
The Martian''
*
Corey Hawkins - ''Straight Outta Compton''
*
Forest Whitaker - ''
Southpaw''
*
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna Elba Order of the British Empire, OBE ( ; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor and musician. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards. He w ...
- ''Beasts of No Nation''
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
*
Phylicia Rashad - ''Creed''
*
Angela Bassett - ''Chi-Raq''
*
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - ''Concussion''
*
Jennifer Hudson - ''Chi-Raq''
*
Tessa Thompson - ''Creed''
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
* Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington - ''Creed''
*
Andrea Berloff and
Jonathan Herman and
Alan Wenkus - ''Straight Outta Compton''
* Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois, and
Grant Thompson - ''
McFarland USA''
*
Rick Famuyiwa - ''Dope''
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture, Television
*
Lawrence Hill and
Clement Virgo - ''
The Book of Negroes''
* Dee Rees, and Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois - ''
Bessie''
*
Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein - ''White Water''
*
Nzingha Stewart
Nzingha Stewart is an American filmmaker. She began her career directing music videos, later moving to the television and movie industry in 2010 with the drama '' For Colored Girls'' as an executive producer. She has directed two movies for Lifeti ...
- ''
With This Ring''
* Shem Bitterman - ''
Whitney''
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
*
Ryan Coogler - ''Creed''
* Rick Famuyiwa - ''Dope''
*
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (sometimes Alfonso Gómez-Rejón; born November 6, 1972, in Laredo, Texas) is an American film and television director. He made his directorial film debut with the slasher film '' The Town That Dreaded Sundown'' (2014). He h ...
- ''
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl''
*
Charles Stone III
Charles Stone III (born 1966) is an American film director. He is best known for ''Drumline (film), Drumline'' starring Nick Cannon, ''Mr. 3000'' starring Bernie Mac, and ''Paid in Full (2002 film), Paid in Full''.
Stone directed the video to " ...
- ''Lila and Eve''
*
F. Gary Gray - ''Straight Outta Compton''
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, Television
*
Dee Rees
Diandrea Rees (born February 7, 1977) is an American screenwriter and director. She is known for her feature films ''Pariah (2011 film), Pariah'' (2011), ''Bessie (film), Bessie'' (2015), ''Mudbound (film), Mudbound'' (2017), and ''The Last Thing ...
- ''Bessie''
* Christine Swanson - ''For the Love of Ruth''
* Nzingha Stewart - ''
With This Ring''
*
Rusty Cundieff - ''White Water''
*
Salim Akil - ''The Start Up''
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
* ''
Beasts of No Nation''
* ''Brotherly Love''
* ''Chi-Raq''
* ''Infinitely Polar Bear''
* ''Secret in Their Eyes''
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
* ''
black-ish''
* ''
House of Lies''
* ''
Key & Peele''
* ''
Orange is the New Black
''Orange Is the New Black'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''OITNB'') is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir '' Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Pr ...
''
* ''Survivor’s Remorse''
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
* Anthony Anderson - ''black-ish''
*
Andre Braugher
Andre Keith Braugher ( ; July 1, 1962 – December 11, 2023) was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the NBC police drama series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999) and Captain Raymond Holt in the ...
- ''
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' is an American police procedural sitcom television series that aired on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox, and later on NBC, from September 17, 2013, to September 16, 2021, for eight seasons and 153 episodes. Created by Dan G ...
''
*
Don Cheadle
Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (, ; born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Don Cheadle, multiple accolades including two Golden Globe Award ...
- ''House of Lies''
*
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on a part-time basis. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional w ...
- ''
Ballers''
*
RonReaco Lee - ''Survivor’s Remorse''
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
*
Tracee Ellis Ross - ''black-ish''
*
Gina Rodriguez
Gina Alexis Rodriguez (born July 30, 1984) is an American actress. She is known for her leading role as Jane Villanueva in The CW satirical romantic dramedy series ''Jane the Virgin'' (2014–2019), for which she received a Golden Globe Award f ...
- ''
Jane The Virgin''
*
Loretta Devine - ''
The Carmichael Show''
*
Uzo Aduba - ''Orange is the New Black''
*
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson (born July 25, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina "Piggy" Grier on The WB comedy sitcom '' The Steve Harvey Show'' (1996–2002), and as sports agent Tasha Mac ...
- ''
The Game''
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
*
Mike Epps - ''Survivor’s Remorse''
*
David Alan Grier - ''The Carmichael Show''
*
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor. Throughout his career, he has gained recognition for his roles on stage and screen as militant and authoritative characters. List of awards and nominations received by Laur ...
- ''black-ish''
*
Miles Brown - ''black-ish''
*
Terry Crews
Terry Alan Crews (born July 30, 1968) is an American actor, television host, and former professional American football, football player. He played Julius Rock in the UPN/The CW Television Network, CW sitcom ''Everybody Hates Chris'', which air ...
- ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine''
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
*
Marsai Martin - ''black-ish''
*
Anna Deavere Smith - ''
Nurse Jackie''
*
Danielle Brooks - ''Orange is the New Black''
*
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox (born May 29, 1972) is an American actress and LGBTQ advocate. She rose to prominence with her role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series '' Orange Is the New Black'', becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a ...
- ''Orange is the New Black''
*
Tichina Arnold - ''Survivor’s Remorse''
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
* ''
Kenya Barris: The Word'' - black-ish
*
Alan Yang and
Aziz Ansari : ''Master of None'' -
Parents
A parent is either the progenitor of a child or, in humans, it can refer to a caregiver or legal guardian, generally called an adoptive parent or step-parent. Parents who are progenitors are first-degree relatives and have 50% genetic meet. ...
*
Jennie Snyder Urman: ''Chapter Twenty-Three'' - ''
Jane The Virgin''
*
Jill Soloway: ''Kina Hora'' -
Transparent
*
Jordan Peele
Jordan Haworth Peele (born February 21, 1979) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is known for his film and television work in the Comedy film, comedy and Horror film, horror genres. He has received List of awards and nominations r ...
,
Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in the sketch series '' Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) for which he received one Primetime Emmy Award from ...
, Jay Martel, Ian Roberts,
Rebecca Drysdale,
Colton Dunn
Colton Dunn (born June 30, 1977) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Garrett McNeil on the NBC workplace comedy '' Superstore'' (2015–2021), his work on Comedy Central sketch comedy series '' Key & Peele ...
, Phil Augusta Jackson,
Alex Rubens,
Charlie Sanders, and
Rich Talarico: ''Y’all Ready For This?'' - Key & Peele
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
* ''Don Cheadle - The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule'' - House of Lies
* ''Aziz Ansari: Master of None'' - Parents
* ''
Brad Silberling
Bradley Mitchell Silberling (born September 8, 1963) is an American television and film director whose credits include the feature films '' Casper'' (1995), '' City of Angels'' (1998), '' Moonlight Mile'' (2002), '' Lemony Snicket's A Series of ...
: Chapter Twenty-Three'' - Jane The Virgin
* ''
Peter Atencio: The End'' - Key & Peele
* ''
Stan Lathan
Stan Lathan (born July 8, 1945) is an American television and film director and television producer. He is executive producer and director of Black Entertainment Television, BET's ''Real Husbands of Hollywood''. He has produced and directed nume ...
: Cabin Pressure'' - Real Husbands of Hollywood
Outstanding Drama Series
* ''
Empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
''
* ''
Being Mary Jane''
* ''
How to Get Away with Murder''
* ''
Power''
* ''
Scandal
A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way a ...
''
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
* ''
Terrence Howard
Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor performing on film and television. He has received a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden ...
'' - Empire
* ''
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip ho ...
'' -
NCIS: Los Angeles
* ''
Morris Chestnut
Morris Lamont Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor. He first came to prominence for his role as Ricky in the 1991 film ''Boyz n the Hood''. He has appeared in feature films such as ''G.I. Jane'', ''The Brothers (2001 film), The B ...
'' -
Rosewood
Rosewood is any of a number of richly hued hardwoods, often brownish with darker veining, but found in other colours. It is hard, tough, strong, and dense. True rosewoods come from trees of the genus '' Dalbergia'', but other woods are often ca ...
* ''
Omari Hardwick'' - Power
* ''
Wesley Snipes'' -
The Player
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
* ''
Taraji P. Henson'' - Empire
* ''
Gabrielle Union'' - Being Mary Jane
* ''
Kerry Washington
Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) SidebarCertificate of Live Birth: Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha(County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health). Gives Kerry Washington birth dateArchivedfrom the original on May 2, 2016.Note: Fil ...
'' - Scandal
* ''
Nicole Beharie'' -
Sleepy Hollow
* ''
Viola Davis
Viola Davis ( ; born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and film producer. List of awards and nominations received by Viola Davis, Her accolades include both the Triple Crown of Acting and EGOT. ''Time (magazine), Time'' named her one of ...
'' - How to Get Away With Murder
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
* ''
Joe Morton'' - Scandal
* ''
Alfred Enoch
Alfred Lewis Enoch (born 2 December 1988) is a British and Brazilian actor. He is best known for playing Dean Thomas (Harry Potter), Dean Thomas in the fantasy film series Harry Potter (film series), ''Harry Potter'' and List of How to Get Away ...
'' - How to Get Away with Murder
* ''
Bryshere Y. Gray'' - Empire
* ''
Guillermo Díaz'' - Scandal
* ''
Jussie Smollett'' - Empire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
* ''
Regina King'' -
American Crime
* ''
Cicely Tyson'' - How to Get Away with Murder
* ''
Danai Gurira'' -
The Walking Dead
* ''
Grace Gealey'' - Empire
* ''
Naturi Naughton'' - Power
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
* ''
Mara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, and
Keli Goff'' : ''Sparrow'' - ''Being Mary Jane''
* Erika Green Swafford and Doug Stockstill: ''Mama’s Here Now'' - How to Get Away with Murder
* John Ridley: ''Episode 1'' - American Crime
*
LaToya Morgan: ''
False Flag
A false flag operation is an act committed with the intent of disguising the actual source of responsibility and pinning blame on another party. The term "false flag" originated in the 16th century as an expression meaning an intentional misrep ...
'' - Turn: Washingtons Spies
*
Lee Daniels
Lee Daniels (born December 24, 1959) is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He made his directorial film debut with ''Shadowboxer'' (2005), followed by ''Precious (film), Precious'' (2009) which earned him Academy Award nomin ...
and
Danny Strong
Danny Strong (born ) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. As an actor, Strong is best known for his roles as Jonathan Levinson in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', Doyle McMaster in ''Gilmore Girls'' and Danny Siegel in '' Mad ...
: ''Pilot'' - Empire
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
* ''John Ridley: Episode 1 - American Crime''
* ''
Ernest Dickerson: Welcome the Stranger'' -
Hand of God
* ''Lee Daniels : Pilot'' - Empire
* ''
Millicent Shelton: Episode Ten'' - American Crime
* ''Salim Akil: Sparrow'' - Being Mary Jane
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
* ''
The Wiz Live!''
* ''American Crime''
* ''Bessie''
* ''
Luther''
* ''The Book of Negroes''
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
* ''David Alan Grier'' - The Wiz Live!
* ''
Cuba Gooding Jr.'' - The Book of Negroes
* ''
David Oyelowo
David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awar ...
'' -
Nightingale
The common nightingale, rufous nightingale or simply nightingale (''Luscinia megarhynchos''), is a small passerine bird which is best known for its powerful and beautiful song. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, ...
* ''Idris Elba'' - Luther
* ''
Michael Kenneth Williams'' - Bessie
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
* ''
Queen Latifah'' - Bessie
* ''Angela Bassett'' -
American Horror Story: Hotel
* ''
Aunjanue Ellis
Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor (; Ellis; born February 21, 1969) is an American actress. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe ...
'' - The Book of Negroes
* ''
Jill Scott'' - With this Ring
* ''
LaTanya Richardson Jackson'' - Show Me a Hero
Outstanding News Information – Series or Special
* ''
Unsung''
* ''Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm''
* ''News One Now''
* ''Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years Later''
* ''
Oprah: Where Are They Now?''
Outstanding Talk Series
* ''
The Talk''
* ''
Melissa Harris-Perry''
* ''
Steve Harvey
Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr. Also aired August 16, 2015. (born January 17, 1957) is an American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and producer. He hosts ''The Steve Harvey Morning Show'', ''Family Feud'', ''Celebrity Family Feud'', '' ...
''
* ''
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''
* ''
The Wendy Williams Show
''The Wendy Williams Show'' (often shortened to ''Wendy'') is an American Broadcast syndication, syndicated talk show created and hosted by Wendy Williams, and produced by Wendy Williams Productions, along with Perler Productions. The show was d ...
''
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
* ''
Welcome to Sweetie Pie's''
* ''
Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
''
* ''
Iyanla: Fix My Life''
* ''
Shark Tank
''Shark Tank'' is an American business Reality television#Investments, reality television series that premiered on August 9, 2009, on American Broadcasting Company, ABC.Hibberd, James (May 10, 2012)Dancing,' 'Bachelor,' and a bigger 'Shark Tank ...
''
* ''
The Voice''
Outstanding Variety, Series or Special
* ''
Family Feud''
* ''
Black Girls Rock!''
* ''
Oprah's Master Class''
* ''The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''
* ''
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore''
Outstanding Children’s Program
* ''
Doc McStuffins
''Doc McStuffins'' is an animated children's television series created by Chris Nee and produced by Brown Bag Films. It aired for five seasons on Disney Jr. from March 23, 2012, to April 18, 2020. The series centers on a girl who fixes toys, w ...
''
* ''
Dora and Friends''
* ''
K.C. Undercover''
* ''Little Ballers''
* ''
Project Mc2''
Outstanding Performance by a Youth - Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series
* ''
Marcus Scribner'' - black-ish
* ''
Hudson Yang'' -
Fresh Off The Boat
* ''Marsai Martin'' - black-ish
* ''Miles Brown'' - black-ish
* ''
Skai Jackson'' -
Jessie
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special)
* ''
Steve Harvey
Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr. Also aired August 16, 2015. (born January 17, 1957) is an American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and producer. He hosts ''The Steve Harvey Morning Show'', ''Family Feud'', ''Celebrity Family Feud'', '' ...
'' - Family Feud
* ''Melissa Harris-Perry'' - Melissa Harris-Perry
* ''
Bryant Gumbel'' -
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
* ''
Trevor Noah'' - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
* ''
Larry Wilmore
Elister Larry Wilmore III (born October 30, 1961) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and actor. He served as the "Senior Black Correspondent" on ''The Daily Show'' from 2006 to 2014, and hosted ''The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore'' in 2 ...
'' -
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Documentary
Outstanding Documentary
* ''
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution''
* ''
Amy''
* ''
Dreamcatcher
In some Native Americans in the United States, Native American and First Nations in Canada, First Nations cultures, a dreamcatcher (, the Ojibwe language#Grammar, inanimate form of the word for 'spider') is a handmade willow hoop, on which is ...
''
* ''In My Father's House''
* ''
What Happened, Miss Simone?
''What Happened, Miss Simone?'' is a 2015 American biographical documentary film about Nina Simone directed by Liz Garbus. The film opened the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The screening was followed by a tribute performance by John Legend. The ...
''
Outstanding Documentary, Television
* ''Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ''
* ''August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand''
* ''Belief''
* ''Kareem: Minority of One''
* ''Light Girls''
Animated
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Television or Film
* ''
Loretta Devine -
Doc McStuffins
''Doc McStuffins'' is an animated children's television series created by Chris Nee and produced by Brown Bag Films. It aired for five seasons on Disney Jr. from March 23, 2012, to April 18, 2020. The series centers on a girl who fixes toys, w ...
''
* ''
Aisha Tyler -
Archer''
* ''
Audra McDonald - Doc McStuffins''
* ''
Jeffrey Wright -
The Good Dinosaur''
* ''
Wanda Sykes'' - Penn Zero
Music
Outstanding New Artist
* ''
Jussie Smollett''
* ''
Andra Day''
* ''
Judith Hill''
* ''
The Weeknd
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (; born February 16, 1990), known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is best known for adding Pop music, pop, electronic music, electronic and hip-hop stylings ...
''
* ''
Yazz''
Outstanding Male Artist
* ''
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973), also known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the music production duo ...
''
* ''
Charlie Wilson''
* ''
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...
''
* ''The Weeknd''
* ''
Tyrese Gibson''
Outstanding Female Artist
* ''
Jill Scott''
* ''
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...
''
* ''
Jazmine Sullivan''
* ''
Lalah Hathaway''
* ''
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...
''
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
* ''Empire Cast featuring Estelle & Jussie Smollett'' -
Conqueror
* ''Original Broadway Cast'' - Hamilton: An American Musical
* ''Janet Jackson featuring
J. Cole'' -
No Sleeep
* ''
Big Sean
Sean Michael Leonard Anderson (born March 25, 1988), known professionally as Big Sean, is an American rapper. He met Kanye West as a teenager, and signed with his record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2007. He gained popul ...
featuring
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...
and
John Legend
John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Every ...
'' -
One Man Can Change The World
* ''
Alabama Shakes'' - Sound & Color
Outstanding Jazz Album
* ''
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
-
Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4''
* ''Terell Stafford Quintet - BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan''
* ''
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater (née Denise Garrett, May 27, 1950) is an American jazz singer and actress. She is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award-winning stage actress. For 23 years, she was the host of National ...
,
Irvin Mayfield, and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra -
Dee Dee's Feathers''
* ''
Erroll Garner - The Complete Concert By The Sea''
* ''
Kamasi Washington -
The Epic''
Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or Contemporary
* ''
Tina Campbell -
It's Personal''
* ''
Kim Burrell - A Different Place''
* ''
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American Gospel music, gospel musician. One of the List of best-selling gospel music artists, best-selling gospel music artists, his accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. ''Variety (magazine), Var ...
-
Losing My Religion''
* ''
Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV''
* ''
Marvin Sapp - You Shall Live''
Outstanding Music Video
* ''Tyrese Gibson -
Shame
Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion often associated with negative self-evaluation; motivation to quit; and feelings of pain, exposure, distrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness.
Definition
Shame is a discrete, basic emotion, d ...
''
* ''The Weeknd -
Can't Feel My Face''
* ''Pharrell Williams -
Freedom
Freedom is the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving oneself one's own laws".
In one definition, something is "free" i ...
''
* ''Janet Jackson featuring J. Cole - No Sleeep''
* ''Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color''
Outstanding Song, Contemporary
* ''Empire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz - You're So Beautiful''
* ''Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett - Conqueror''
* ''Pharrell Williams - Freedom''
* ''Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole - No Sleeep''
* ''Janet Jackson'' - Unbreakable
Outstanding Song, Traditional
* ''Jill Scott - Back Together''
* ''
Seal'' - Every Time I’m with You
* ''Lauryn Hill'' - Feeling Good
* ''Charlie Wilson'' - Goodnight Kisses
* ''Jazmine Sullivan -
Let It Burn''
Outstanding Album
* ''Jill Scott -
Woman
A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or Adolescence, adolescent is referred to as a girl.
Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functi ...
''
* ''The Weeknd -
Beauty Behind the Madness
''Beauty Behind the Madness'' is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on August 28, 2015, through XO and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Labrinth, Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey. T ...
''
* ''Empire Cast'' - ''
Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1''
* ''Charlie Wilson'' - ''Forever Charlie''
* ''Janet Jackson -
Unbreakable''
Literature
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
* ''Victoria Christopher Murrary- Stand Your Ground''
* ''Ravi Howard - Driving the King''
* ''
Tananarive Due
Tananarive Priscilla Due ( ) (born January 5, 1966) is an American author and educator. Due won the American Book Award for her novel '' The Living Blood'' (2001), and the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel, the Shirley Jackson Award for Best ...
- Ghost Summer: Stories''
* ''
ReShonda Tate Billingsley - Mama’s Boy''
* ''
Chinelo Okparanta -
Under the Udala Trees''
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
* ''Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga'' - Pamela Newkirk
* ''50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership'' - Kathey Porter and Andrea Hoffman
* ''Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America'' - Jill Leovy
* ''SHOWDOWN: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America'' - Wil Haygood
* ''The Light of the World'' - Elizabeth Alexander
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
* ''
The Fishermen -
Chigozie Obioma
Chigozie Obioma (1986) was born in Akure, Nigeria. He is the author of three novels The ''Fishermen'' (2015), An ''Orchestra of Minorities'' (2019) and ''The Road to the Country'' (2024). The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities were final ...
''
* ''
Between the World and Me -
Ta-Nehisi Coates''
* ''The Star Side of Bird Hill - Naomi Jackson''
* ''
The Turner House -
Angela Flournoy''
* ''The Wind In The Reeds: A Storm, A Play And The City That Could Not Be Broken'' -
Wendell Pierce and
Rod Dreher
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto-Biography
* ''Between The World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates''
* ''After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye - Jan Gaye''
* ''One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York - Arthur Browne''
* ''Power Forward: My Presidential Education -
Reggie Love''
* ''Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person -
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Rhimes became known ...
''
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
* ''Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family'' -
Alice Randall and
Caroline Randall Williams
* ''Big Words to Little Me: Tips and Advice for the Younger Self'' - Sakina Ibrahim and Jessie Lee
* ''Free Your Mind: An African American Guide to Meditation and Freedom'' - Cortez R. Rainey
* ''Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories'' - Jocelyn Delk Adams
* ''Keep Calm… It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide To Buying A Home'' -
Egypt Sherrod
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
* ''How to Be Drawn'' -
Terrance Hayes
* ''Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude'' -
Ross Gay
* ''Reconnaissance'' -
Carl Phillips
* ''Redbone'' - Mahogany L. Browne
* ''Wild Hundreds'' - Nate Marshall
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
* ''Gordon Parks How the Photographer Captured Black and White America'' -
Carole Boston Weatherford
* ''Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts'' -
Nikki Grimes
* ''Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box'' - Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein
* ''If You Plant a Seed'' -
Kadir Nelson
* ''New Shoes'' - Susan Lynn Meyer
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
* ''X: A Novel'' -
Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon
* ''Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound'' -
Andrea Davis Pinkney
* ''Stella By Starlight'' -
Sharon Draper
* ''Untwine'' -
Edwidge Danticat
* ''You Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles for Teen Girls to Embrace'' - Gwen Richardson and Sylvia Daye Richardson
References
{{NAACP Image Awards
NAACP Image Awards
N
N
N
NAACP Image
2016 awards in the United States