This Famous Award Show Isn’t Getting The Love It Deserves

Ooh, chile! It's almost that time again for the NAACP Image Awards! (Disclaimer: I have been a member of the NAACP for going on 3 years and was recently elected Yakima County Branch President). In my not-so-humble opinion, this award show is not getting the love and just due it deserves. It has been going on for the past 51 years but the live Instagram announcement of the 2021 nominees was overshadowed by the 2021 Golden Globe Award nominees that were released on the same day.

I am here to remind the world that this award show is happening and that we can watch it locally on our TVs (if you have access to the BET channel). There is a reason this award show was established: 51 years ago, Black actors, writers, directors, literary artists, and other performers were either prohibited from attending more "established" aka white, award shows, or they were passed over in favor of their white counterparts. Black people had to do something drastic to recognize the outstanding performances of other African Americans, thus, the NAACP Image Awards was born.

I am an award show junkie, well, at least I used to be. That was before I had a child. Now, it's more than enough for me to remember about an award show, let alone know WHO is being nominated for something. I tell you, if it wasn't for my radio job, I wouldn't be keeping up with these new young'uns and their music. I likes to keep it old school, and YES, I meant to say "I likes". (My 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Davis, would have a heart attack if she saw me using that kind of language!)

Lately, I have been getting back into some of my old habits now that my little brand new baby is 9 years old. It has taken me about NINE whole years just to remember who I was in 2011 B.C. (Before Child).

A couple of weeks ago, I woke up bright and early and set my phone alarm and everything so that I wouldn't miss a beat of the 52nd Annual NAACP Image Award announcements on Instagram. I mistakenly thought it would be live AND I mistakenly thought it was happening at 7 A.M. that morning. Whoops, my bad! It was at NOON our time. I really need to find my glasses.

Nominations included the categories:

• Literary
• Writing
• Directing
• Acting (Television, Motion Picture)
• Music Recording
• Documentaries
• Television/Streaming

I was pleased to see some of the nominees included my favorites, like Beyoncé, Jasmin Sullivan, and Drake. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Lovecraft Country, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story, and my girl, Jennifer Lewis nominated in some of the acting categories. You can be sure they will honor the GREATS that left us in the year 2020, including Cicely Tyson.

You won't want to miss the award show on Saturday, March 27th on BET. I'm going to try to sneak into the "virtual backstage" room with my press pass!

See the full list of nominees here.