Queen Latifah to host the 55th NAACP Image Awards
Amanda Gorman and June Ambrose will be honored with the Chairman’s and Vanguard Award.
Star and executive producer of CBS’ “The Equalizer”, hip-hop veteran Queen Latifah will return to the big stage to host the iconic 55th NAACP Image Awards.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with groundbreaking megastar Queen Latifah and are elated to welcome her again as this year’s host,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET ”… Queen Latifah, NAACP, and Pastis have been such incredible partners in amplifying Black culture, excellence, creativity, and ingenuity, and this year’s unforgettable show will be no different.”
The 55th NAACP Image Awards will air on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on CBS and BET. Winners will also be recognized in a non-televised category reveal on March 11-13 on www.naacpimageawards.net, during an awards dinner on March 14 and the fashion show on March 15.
Amanda Gorman, who authored “The Hill We Climb” poem for Joe Biden’s 2021 presidential inauguration will be receiving the Chairman’s Award during the live awards broadcast. Highly esteemed, Gorman has accomplished notable achievements that center community enrichment, literacy, advocacy and education. She has also debuted at number one on the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and New York Times for “Change Sings” and “Call Us What We Carry.”
“Amanda Gorman stands as one of the brightest young voices in our nation and has emerged as a formidable force inspiring a new generation of leaders towards transformative change through her advocacy efforts and poetic brilliance,” said Leon W. Russel, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “With her exceptional talent and unwavering commitment to positive change, Gorman continues to leave an indelible mark on the literary and social landscape, proving that words have the power to shape a better future.”
The Chairman’s Award is given to leaders who demonstrate commitment to public service while fortifying the groundwork for tomorrow’s agents of change through their community engagement. Past honorees of The Chairman’s Award include: Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Glover, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, then-Senator Barack Obama and more.
Award- winning creative director, designer and fashionista, June Ambrose will be receiving the Vanguard award for her decades of contributions to the fashion industry. Ambrose is credited for being one of the first stylists to dress R&B and hip-hop artists in haute couture clothing.
Her clientele includes: Jay Z, Will Smith, Mary. J Blige and many more. Ambrose will be honored on Friday, March 15 at the “55th NAACP Image Awards” fashion show.
“As a fashion icon and cultural pioneer, June Ambrose has not only shaped the visual landscape of pop culture but has also elevated the conversation around the importance of diversity and inclusion in the world of fashion and entertainment,” said Karen Boykins- Towns, Vice Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Image Awards Committee.
Referred to by some as the “Black Oscars”, the NAACP Image Awards has brought some of Hollywood’s most distinguished stars in previous years such as: Beyoncé, Viola Davis, Tabitha Brown, Kyla Pratt, Will Smith, Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union and many more.
“The NAACP Image Awards is an important celebration for our community and industry every year,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “We get the opportunity to highlight the major accomplishments of artists, writers, entertainers, activists and other change makers that push Black excellence forward in a powerful way.”
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