Kamala Harris receives prestigious Chairman’s prize at NAACP Image Awards
Kamala Harris receives prestigious Chairman’s prize at NAACP Image Awards
LOS ANGELES — Former Vice President Kamala Harris stepped on the NAACP Image Awards stage Saturday night with a sobering message, calling the civil rights organization a pillar of the Black community and urging people to stay resilient and hold onto their faith during the tenure of President Donald Trump.
“While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the oval office nor by the wealthiest among us,” Harris said after receiving the NAACP’s Chairman’s Award. “The American story will be written by you. Written by us. By we the people.”
The 56th annual Image Awards kicked off Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in the Los Angeles area.
Harris, defeated by Trump in last year’s presidential election, was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president. She had previously been a U.S. senator from California and the state’s attorney general.
In her first major public appearance since leaving office, Harris did not reference her election loss or Trump’s actions since entering the Oval Office, although Trump mocked her earlier in the day at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Harris spoke about eternal vigilance, the price of liberty, staying alert, seeking the truth and America’s future.
“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask ‘What do we do now?’” Harris said. “But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path.”
Other winners of the Chairman’s prize have included former President Barack Obama, the late Rep. John Lewis and the late actor Ruby Dee.
Harris was honored during the ceremony along with the Wayans family. The family was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame in recognition of pioneering contributions to film, TV, sketch and stand-up comedy that have shaped Hollywood for decades.
Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. each were recognized.
Marlon Wayans, whose guest appearance on Peacock’s “Bel-Air” was up for an NAACP award, shared how Keenen Ivory Wayans sparked the family’s rise.
“He raised us all like Jedis,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our big brother.”
Marlon Wayans joked that when his brother told their mom he was leaving college for comedy, she said, “Boy, I’ve known you your whole life, and you ain’t never said nothing funny. That’s the funniest thing you’ve said.”
The crowd erupted in laughter, a fitting tribute to a family that has kept audiences laughing for more than three decades.
The family has a long list of credits. Keenen Ivory Wayans created the sketch comedy series “In Living Color” in 1990 and directed the 2000 slasher spoof “Scary Movie,” which was written by Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans, who also wrote and starred in “White Chicks” in 2004. Damon Wayan’s had a starring role in the 1995 comedy “Major Payne,” and currently co-stars with son Damon Wayans Jr. in the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House,” which was nominated for an NAACP Award. The pair also were nominated for their acting on the show.
Damon Wayans Jr. has acted in two of the most critically acclaimed comedies in recent years: “Happy Endings” and “New Girl.” Kim Wayans, a comedian, actor and director, also received praise for her work in the 2011 drama “Pariah.”
Keke Palmer expressed her surprise after her name was called as winner of the coveted entertainer of the year.
“Oh my gosh. Guys, I didn’t think I was going to win,” said Palmer, who paid homage to fellow nominee Cynthia Erivo’s Oscar-nominated performance in “Wicked.”
Palmer starred in the buddy comedy “One of Them Days,” which debuted No. 1 at the box office last month. She also won an Emmy for her hosting efforts on NBC’s “Password.”
“It’s such an amazing category to be in with all these people,” Palmer said. “It’s a beautiful night. It’s Black History Month, y’all. It’s so important we all come here together and celebrate one another with one another.”
Other nominees included Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe.
Image Awards host Deon Cole honored residents of the nearby Altadena neighborhood who were affected by January’s devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.
A video of the fire devastation played before actor Morris Chestnut took the stage.
“Homes were lost, stores destroyed, countless lives shattered and over two dozens souls gone forever,” said Chestnut, a Los Angeles native who referenced impacted areas such as Altadena, the Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
“But what was not lost is the spirit of our community,” said Chestnut, who noted 22 Altadena residents attended the show on Saturday. Many in the audience stood and applauded.
Cole shifted tone and brightened the mood with a comedic prayer for Kanye West’s wife to find more clothes after her barely-there Grammys look and for Shannon Sharpe to finally size up his T-shirts.
The opening act was a lead-up to the evening’s first award: Queen Latifah as best actress in a drama series for her role in “The Equalizer.”
Dave Chappelle was honored with the President’s Award for his “thought-provoking humor.”
Accepting the award, Chappelle talked about the NAACP’s push against negative portrayals of Black people in media and the importance of representation.
“Every opportunity we get, we just keep chipping away at this monster of a machine,” he said.
Past recipients of the President’s Award include Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Usher, Rihanna and John Legend.
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Kamala Harris Gives Rousing NAACP Image Awards Speech in First TV Appearance After Leaving Office: ‘Our Power Has Never Come From Having an Easy Path’
By Michaela Zee
Former Vice President Kamala Harris gave a rousing speech at the 56th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California, where she accepted the organization’s Chairman’s Award.
“This organization came into being at a moment when our country struggled with greed, bitterness and hatred. And those who forged the NAACP, those who carried its legacy forward, had no illusions about the forces they were up against — no illusions about how stony the road would be,” Harris said on stage in her first TV appearance since leaving office. “But some look at this moment and rightly feel the weight of history. Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, ‘What do we do now?’ But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before, and we will do it again.”
She continued, “We use our power; we organize, mobilize, we educate and we advocate. Because, you see, our power has never come from having an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith — faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction. Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the fight is worth it.”
NAACP Image Awards 2025: Full Winners List
The audience, which gave the former vice president a standing ovation when she walked on stage, continued to applaud throughout Harris’ speech.
“While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter of our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office — nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, written by us — by we the people. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States,” Harris concluded.
The Chairman’s Award honors individuals who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.” The Oakland-born Harris served as California Attorney General and U.S. Senator before making history as the first woman, Black American and South Asian American to serve as VP (with President Joe Biden). Then, in 2024, Harris ran another historic campaign as the first Black and South Asian woman to be nominated by a major party for president.
Past Chairman’s Award honorees include Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.
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NAACP Image Awards kick off with recognition of Altadena residents impacted by wildfires
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., appears on stage at the 50th annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 56th NAACP Image Awards kicked off Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with host Deon Cole honoring Altadena residents who were affected by a recent Los Angeles-area wildfire.
Cole then shifted tone and brightened the mood with a comedic prayer for Kanye West’s wife to find more clothes after her barely-there Grammys look and for Shannon Sharpe to finally size up his T-shirts.
The opening act was a lead-up to the evening’s first award: Queen Latifah as best actress in a drama series, for her role in “The Equalizer.”
The ceremony took place in Pasadena, just south of the Altadena area, and video of last month’s fire devastation played before actor Morris Chestnut took the stage.
“Homes were lost, stores destroyed, countless lives shattered and over two dozens souls gone forever,” said Chestnut, a Los Angeles native who referenced impacted areas such as Altadena, the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. He said 22 Altadena residents attended the show, panning towards them as many in the audience stood up and applauded.
“But what was not lost is the spirit of our community,” Chestnut said.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was to be honored during the ceremony, receiving the prestigious Chairman’s Award, and the Wayans family was to be inducted into the NAACP Awards Hall of Fame.
Here is what you need to know about the awards show, including how to watch or stream live, entertainer of the year nominees and more details on featured honorees.
Harris, defeated by Donald Trump in last year’s presidential election, was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president. She had previously been a U.S. senator from California and the state’s attorney general.
In a statement, Harris was called a “force of change” by Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP’s national board of directors. He said the show would celebrate her “relentless dedication to justice, equality, and the betterment of our society.”
Other winners of the Chairman’s prize have included former President Barack Obama, the late Rep. John Lewis and the late actor Ruby Dee.
The Wayans family — Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. — whose impact on film, TV, sketch and stand-up comedy has shaped Hollywood on and off screen, were each being recognized.
Some of the their credits include the sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” created by Keenan Ivory Wayans in 1990, and Damon Wayans’ starring role in the 1995 comedy “Major Payne.”
Keenan Ivory Wayans also directed the 2000 slasher spoof “Scary Movie,” written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who also wrote and starred in “White Chicks” in 2004. Father-son duo Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. currently co-star in the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House.”
Damon Wayans Jr. has acted in two of the most critically acclaimed comedies in recent years: “Happy Endings” and “New Girl.” Kim Wayans, a comedian, actor and director, also received praise for her work in the 2011 drama “Pariah.”
“Poppa’s House” was nominated for an NAACP Award, as were Damon Wayons and Damon Wayons Jr. for their acting on the show. Marlon Wayans’ guest appearance on Peacock’s “Bel-Air” was also up for an award.
The top nominees for the coveted honor included Kendrick Lamar, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe.
Lamar won over the masses for his rap battle with Drake, leading to chart-topping dis tracks including “Not Like Us,” which won him five Grammys. He headlined the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this month.
Erivo, who made her presence felt in her Oscar-nominated performance in “Wicked,” will be the host of the upcoming Tony Awards.
Sharpe, an NFL Hall of Famer, became an influential voice in media with his podcast “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap,” with Chad Ochocinco Johnson.
Hart showed off his comedic talents during “The Roast of Tom Brady” and starred in “Lift and Borderlands.”
Palmer starred in the buddy comedy “One of Them Days,” which debuted No. 1 at the box office last month. She won an Emmy for her hosting efforts on NBC’s “Password.”
Dave Chappelle was to be honored with the president’s award for his “thought-provoking humor,” according to Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO.
Chappelle will be the first comedian to receive the honor. Past recipients include Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Usher, Rihanna and John Legend.
DJ D-Nice was to honor music legend the late Quincy Jones, and Grammy winner Ledisi was set to perform alongside the Adam Blackstone Band.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
