About the NAACP Image Awards

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In 1915 the NAACP organized a nationwide protest against the negative portrayals of African Americans in “Birth of A Nation”. The founding members of the association immediately understood the power and influence of film and media on societal opinions.

In 1942, NAACP Executive Director, Walter White, working with politicians and studio executives, established an ad hoc committee to monitor the image and portrayal of African Americans on the screen.

In 1955, the Mississippi Branch of the NAACP, led by Medgar Evers, filed a complaint with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) citing local television affiliate, WLBT for presenting the local news in a racially biased manner that did not serve the public interest. In 1966, under consistent legal pressure from the NAACP, “The Amos & Andy Show” was taken off the air. In 1969, the FCC revoked WLBT’s broadcast license, marking the only time in FCC history that a television station’s license was revoked because of racial bias in programming. This sent a powerful message to the rest of the television industry: citizens own the public airwaves.

The NAACP Image Awards first ran in 1967 and are now the nation’s premier event celebrating the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts, as well as those individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors.

In 1999, the networks signed a landmark memorandum of understanding with the NAACP and the Grand Coalition greatly advancing the cause of diversity in the entertainment industry and creating a milestone by which we can measure future progress in Hollywood.

Today, the NAACP Hollywood Bureau and its members continues to monitor offensive and defamatory images in film and television, and campaign for greater minority participation in the entertainment industry.