It was a total knockout for Michael B. Jordan at the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) Image Awards in a ceremony that took several jabs at Hollywood for the lack of racial diversity.
The star of the boxing drama Creed was honoured on Friday as both the entertainer of the year and outstanding actor in a motion picture for his role as Apollo Creed’s son.
“I used to sneak into the Image Awards, and now I’m standing here as the entertainer of the year, which is mind blowing,” he said.
Straight Outta Compton, which tells the story of the pioneering rap group NWA, picked up the outstanding motion picture prize.
“I want to thank the NAACP for this because without you riding for us for the last 100 years, we would not be standing here,” director F. Gary Gray said.
Image Awards host Anthony Anderson kicked off the ceremony by invoking NWA for a rap about the lack of racial diversity at other awards shows.
The blackish star donned a gold chain and a baseball cap with the words “Nominees With Attitude” to sing about such snubs as Beasts of No Nation and Jordan at the Academy Awards.
“Listen, y’all, I don’t mean to sound cocky, but the movie’s called Creed, not Rocky,” he rapped.
Anderson later joked during his opening monologue that he didn’t want the Academy Awards to go overboard in response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy by honouring a movie like Madea Goes Trick or Treating in Compton as best picture or handing out Kevin Harts instead of Oscars.
“Hollywood needs to know that this is what diversity is supposed to look like,” a more serious Anderson told the crowd at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
When he walked on stage to present Creed as an outstanding motion picture contender, Sylvester Stone was surprised to be greeted warmly by the audience.
“I certainly didn’t expect that,” said the Rocky star, who failed to recognise Jordan and Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler in his acceptance speech at last month’s Golden Globes. He later returned to the stage to thank them and apologised on Twitter.
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee were among this year’s Image Awards attendees who said they won’t attend this year’s Oscar ceremony after a second year of mostly white nominees.
Despite several comments — both mocking and thoughtful — about the lack of racial diversity in Hollywood, it was mostly show business as usual for the 47th Image Awards, which are presented by the NAACP to honour people of colour in entertainment.
Blackish swept the TV comedy categories, with Anderson winning the award for outstanding actor, while the show was selected as outstanding comedy series and his co-star Tracee Ellis Ross was honoured as outstanding actress.
On the TV drama side, Empire dominated with wins for outstanding drama series, actor and actress for Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
“We don’t need to ask for acceptance from anyone,” Henson said. “We are enough.”
Sanaa Lathan was awarded the trophy for best actress in a motion picture for The Perfect Guy.
John Legend received the NAACP President’s Award, which recognises those who have achieved career success and public service. In his speech, the singer-songwriter lauded activists who fight for social justice.
“Despite the daunting problems, I am hopeful that our generation will demand and achieve radical change in our lifetime,” said Legend after he performed All of Me.
For the first time, the NAACP Chairman’s Award, which honours distinguished public service, was presented to eight recipients, including pastor Jamal Bryant, Empire actor Jussie Smollett and the activist group Concerned Student Collective 1950 at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
