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LOS ANGELES, CA (March 15, 2024) – Today, the NAACP announced that eight-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer and songwriter USHER will receive the prestigious President’s Award during the “55th NAACP Image Awards.” The ceremony will broadcast LIVE on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET, CBS Television Network, BET Her, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop, Smithsonian Channel™, TV Land, and streaming live on the CBS network feed available on Paramount+.*
LOS ANGELES (March 7, 2024) – Today, the NAACP and BET announced Grammy-nominated singing group New Edition will be inducted into the acclaimed NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame during the “55th NAACP Image Awards.” The Hall of Fame Award is bestowed on an individual who is a pioneer in their respective field and whose influence will shape the profession for generations to come. Previous inductees include Eddie Murphy, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Carlos Santana, Little Richard, Sidney Poitier, Earth Wind and Fire and Aretha Franklin.
LOS ANGELES (March 5, 2024) – Today, BET, CBS, and NAACP announced that GRAMMY® award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor and producer Queen Latifah (series star/executive producer of The Equalizer, CBS) will return to host the prestigious “55th NAACP Image Awards” airing LIVE on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET and the CBS Television Network.
LOS ANGELES (January 25, 2024) – Today, NAACP unveiled the full list of “55th NAACP Image Awards” nominees with Netflix and Amazon leading the pack with 55 and 27 nominations respectively. The winners will be revealed during the two–hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET/ PT on BET and CBS.
LOS ANGELES (September 29, 2023) – Today, the NAACP and BET announced that the “55th NAACP Image Awards” will broadcast live in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16 (at 8:00 PM ET/PT) on BET and CBS. Nominees will be announced on Thursday, January 25.
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NAACP IMAGE AWARDS MEDIA CONTACTS
LUIS DEFRANK
- luis.defrank@bet.net
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NAACP EXECUTIVES
LEON W. RUSSELL
Leon W. Russell has dedicated his life to fighting for human rights and has served on the National Board of Directors since 1990 in various roles, including Assistant Secretary, Chair of the Convention Planning Committee, and Vice Chair. His peers recognized his decades of work and leadership when they elected him as chair in 2017.
Before joining the board, Russell served as president of the NAACP Florida State Conference of Branches for 4 years after serving for 15 years as the first vice president.
After 35 years of public service as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County in Clearwater, Florida, Russell retired in 2012. During his time as a civil servant he was responsible for implementing the county’s affirmative action and human rights ordinances.
These ordinances continue to ensure a racially and sexually diverse workforce and support the implementation of the county’s equal employment opportunity programs.
From 2007 to 2011, Russell served as President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA). The IAOHRA membership consists of statutory human and civil rights agencies throughout the United States and Canada and other nations. These agencies enforce state and local civil rights laws and are actively engaged in reducing and resolving intergroup tension and promoting intergroup relations.
As part of his lifelong work and leadership, Russell has served as a member of several organizations including the International City Management Association and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He served as a board member of the Pinellas Opportunity Council, president and board member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Campaign of Florida.
As the Chairman of Floridians Representing Equity and Equality (FREE), a statewide coalition, Russel worked to oppose the Florida Civil Rights Initiative, an anti-affirmative action proposal. Ultimately, the initiative failed to get on the Florida ballot for voter consideration, because of the strong legal challenge spearheaded by FREE.
Russell has received numerous civic awards and citations for his work ensuring equality and equity across the U.S.
DERRICK JOHNSON
DERRICK JOHNSON
NAACP President and CEO
Derrick Johnson serves as President and CEO of the NAACP, a title he has held since October of 2017. President Johnson formerly served as vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, as well as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding member and leader of the NAACP, Mr. Johnson has helped guide the Association through a period of re-envisioning and reinvigoration.
Under President Johnson’s leadership, the NAACP has undertaken such efforts as the 2018 “Log Out” Facebook Campaign, pressuring Facebook after reports of Russian hackers targeting African Americans, the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership, marking the 400th year enslaved Africans first touched the shores of America, and the 2020 We are Done Dying Campaign, exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large.
As the Biden Administration took office in 2021, President Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position focused squarely on advancing our nation’s longstanding issue of racial justice. President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing an interagency effort to eliminate systemic racial barriers and ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity, optimizing the well-being of all in public policies.
President Johnson also continues to be on the frontlines on some of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time, calling out Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for his use of Blackface, condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr’s nomination, and overseeing the NAACP’s vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in Detroit.
President Johnson elevated the Association’s visibility and voice as we called for a national response to the coronavirus pandemic that was informed by existing racial disparities in health care outcomes, access, coverage and services, as well as the disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and other people of color.
Recognizing the critical importance of quality health care, he has long advocated for expanded Medicaid eligibility, affordable health insurance options, and investment in community-based health care infrastructure through a strong network of equitably-located, well-resourced community health centers.
Born in Detroit, Mr. Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. He then received his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX. Mr. Johnson has also furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has served as an annual guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Lani Guinier’s course on social movements, and as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.
Mr. Johnson is a veteran activist who has dedicated his career to defending the rights and improving the lives of Mississippians. As State President of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference, he led critical campaigns for voting rights and equitable education. He successfully managed two bond referendum campaigns in Jackson, MS that brought $150 million in school building improvements and $65 million towards the construction of a new convention center, respectively. As a regional organizer at the Jackson-based non-profit, Southern Echo, Inc., Mr. Johnson provided legal, technical, and training support for communities across the South.
President Johnson is frequently featured on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and many others, advocating on behalf of the Black community and all those who are affected by systemic oppression and prejudice.
KAREN BOYKIN-TOWNS
Karen Boykin-Towns built a reputation as a visionary and driver of strategic results. She brings demonstrated success in the areas of policy, advocacy, communications and proactive change management to NAACP in her role as Vice Chair of the National Board of Directors. Her goal is to apply and share her experience to make positive change. She now serves as Founder and President/CEO of Encore Strategies LLC a boutique consultancy focusing on integrating business and public affairs initiatives. A distinguished strategist, global business, and civic leader, Boykin-Towns previously contributed her expertise across government, the nonprofit sector, and Pfizer a Fortune 50 global biopharmaceutical company, while also championing civil rights and social justice issues.
At Pfizer, Boykin-Towns advanced quickly into executive management roles. She was recruited as a senior legislative analyst based on her reputation for success in state government and held key leadership roles in public affairs, government relations, global policy, and human resources. Based on her positive impact driving change across the organization, in 2008 she was selected by Pfizer’s CEO to serve as its first Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, she successfully developed an integrated, global strategy resulting in internal progress and external recognition of the company’s advances in diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage. Boykin-Towns concluded her time at Pfizer as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for their $34 billion Innovative Medicines business where she served as a member of the Senior Leadership Committee which consisted of the top 200 leaders in the global organization.
Embracing her passion for policy and politics, Boykin-Towns’ early career involved serving as legislative director and then chief of staff to New York State Senator David Paterson who later became the 55th Governor of New York. In this role, she led the strategy and execution of legislative efforts related to civil and human rights, community development, and environmental issues.
Boykin-Towns leverages her talent as a coalition builder and social change agent through her active participation in various organizations. Along with her work with the NAACP where she is a Diamond member, Karen serves on the boards of several organizations including American Airlines Community Council; Visiting Nurse Services; Brewster Academy, and independent director for iFIT, maker of NordicTrack. She also serves as senior advisor for FGS Global and was co-executive producer for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards show.
Karen has been featured in Black Enterprise, Bloomberg Businessweek, Black Entertainment Television, PR Week, WWD, Ebony Magazine, Crain’s, African American Career World, Network Journal and The Cut. Savoy Magazine named her a “Top Influential Woman in Corporate America” in 2016. In 2020, she was named “Woman of the Year” by Seeds of Fortune and named by City & State as one of New York’s Power Players in Politics and Government. In 2021 Karen was selected for Lafayette 148’s Unordinary Women Campaign.
Karen Boykin-Towns holds an MBA degree from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY), as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. A mother of two young women, Boykin-Towns is married to former State Assemblyman Darryl Towns and lives in Brooklyn, NY, and Charlotte, NC.
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BET EXECUTIVES
SCOTT M. MILLS
Scott M. Mills is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BET, the nation’s leading provider of quality content from Black creators. He reports directly to President of Paramount Global, Bob Bakish, and Chairman and CEO of Showtime Networks, David Nevins.
During his four-year tenure as BET President, Mills sparked invaluable change that structured and positioned the legacy brand for future success in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Since his appointment in 2018, Mills expanded the BET brand well beyond the framework of a traditional cable network, into the multi-platform media powerhouse that it is today with the launches of BET+, a premium subscription streaming service; BET Studios, an innovative studio venture providing equity ownership to Black content creators; BET’s wide-reaching digital platforms and footprint; and much more. Bringing A-list content creators into the fold, Mills set new precedents for BET, and, by extension, ViacomCBS, making the global media brand the largest commissioner of Black premium content through partnerships with Tyler Perry, Lena Waithe, Kenya Barris, Lee Daniels, and many others.
“Under Scott’s leadership, BET has reached new heights with continued commercial success and profound cultural impact during a period of immense industry and social change,” said Bob Bakish, President and CEO of ViacomCBS. “Scott has been instrumental in the expansion of the BET brand as the premier destination for Black entertainment and top talent, and he has spearheaded transformative initiatives that not only give back to the community but also play a critical role in representation in front of and behind the camera. BET is a source of inspiration and pride across the company, and I’m excited for BET’s strong future ahead with Scott at the helm.”
Under Mills’ executive leadership, BET will continue to build upon its 40-year legacy of entertaining Black audiences and its commitment to entertain, engage, and empower the Black community. Philanthropy has always been central to BET’s mission, however Mills’ dedicated social impact strategies have inspired company- and industry-wide change. One such example is Content for Change, a multi-pronged initiative that leverages data to effect societal change and combat bias, that was recently adopted across the entire ViacomCBS organization. Whether investing in Black communities, discovering, and fostering Black creatives and talent, or rallying Black leaders across business, media, and entertainment to raise nearly $20M in COVID-19 relief to support Black communities hit the hardest by the virus, BET remains the industry leader in Black premium content and steadfast in its duty to the Black community.
“BET is uniquely positioned to thrive at the intersection of content, community, and culture,” said Mills. “Through the power of the BET brand, our incredible team and great partners, we’ve established leading business franchises across linear, streaming, digital, and most recently, content development and distribution. It is an extraordinary privilege to steward such a culturally significant brand with an enormous legacy as a catalyst for change. As CEO, I look forward to working with my immensely talented BET colleagues and our great partners to ensure that BET continues to thrive and remains ideally positioned to succeed in the ever-changing media landscape.”
CONSTANCE M. ORLANDO
Constance M. Orlando is an award-winning media executive recently named Executive Vice President of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc.. A pop culture visionary, Ms. Orlando oversees all genres of original programming, including scripted offerings “The Quad,” “Being Mary Jane,” and specials including, Black Girls Rock! and ratings juggernaut BET Awards. Ms. Orlando also leads the BET News department, overseeing critically acclaimed specials on Ferguson and Baltimore. She also ushered BET into the documentary space with BET Truth Series, which in its inaugural year produced award-winning projects Katrina 10 Years Later, Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ and Stay Woke.
Ms. Orlando previous roles with BET include Senior Vice President of Specials, Music Programming and News, and VP of Original Programming. Ms. Orlando was part of the network’s largest expansion into original programming in its history. Her ability to lead, inspire and create hits resulted in a list of accomplishments including BET Presents: Love & Happiness, an Obama Celebration, Sunday Best, TD Jakes Presents: Mind, Body, & Soul, The Steve Harvey Project, Monica: Still Standing and scripted series The Game, which scored record-breaking ratings.
Ms. Orlando is Executive Producer of all tentpole events, including the BET Awards, the #1 program in cable television history among AA viewers and a top 10 awards show on television amongst total viewers.
Prior to joining BET Networks, the Syracuse University graduate ran her own full service production company, CMO Productions, Inc. While running CMO, Orlando served as Executive Producer of award-winning director Hype Williams’ Big Dog Films. Among CMO’s crowning triumphs was a partnership with music icon and businessman Jay-Z to produce the first of its kind, direct-to-video movie soundtrack The Streets Is Watching.
Outside of work, Orlando is passionate about advocating for and providing support to women and children in need, so in 1998 she launched a non-profit foundation, ‘Just The Girls’. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Clark Atlanta University’s TV department as the Programming Committee Chair. Orlando accolades include NAMIC’s “Top 40 Under 40”. Her work has earned her nine NAACP Image Awards (“The Mo’Nique Show” 2010, “Sunday Best” 2011, “Black Girls Rock!” 2012/2013/2014/2016, “The Game” 2012, “Ali: The People’s Champ” 2015, and Love & Happiness: an Obama celebration 2016), and five NAMIC Vision Awards (“Black Girls Rock!”).
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SHOW PRODUCERS
REGINALD HUDLIN
Oscar and Emmy nominated producer and director Reginald Hudlin is one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation.
Hudlin’s next film is SAFETY, a sports drama for Disney Plus that is currently in post-production and debuts on Christmas Day 2020.
His latest film, THE BLACK GODFATHER, is an award-winning documentary currently streaming on Netflix. He also recently directed the legal thriller MARSHALL, starring Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall, with Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, and Sterling K. Brown.
Hudlin is the producer of EMPEROR, a Civil War-era historical drama, which will premiere August 18, 2020 and stars Dayo Okeniyi, James Cromwell and Kat Graham.
Hudlin the first African American to executive produce the Emmys, which will air on September 20th of 2020.
In February 2016, Hudlin produced The Oscars, for which he subsequently received an Emmy nomination. Additionally, he has been the executive producer of the NAACP Image Awards for the past seven years.
In 2012, he was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award as one of the producers of Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning film DJANGO UNCHAINED, which is one of the top-grossing Westerns of all time.
In his illustrious career, Hudlin has written, directed and/or produced numerous popular feature films including HOUSE PARTY, BOOMERANG, GREAT WHITE HYPE and BEBE’S KIDS. In television he was an executive producer of THE BOONDOCKS and wrote and produced THE BLACK PANTHER animated series based on the comic book series he wrote for 4 years.
Hudlin is one of the few filmmakers to also run a major media company. He was the first president of entertainment for Black Entertainment Television, the biggest black media company in the world. He created B.E.T.’s first full slate of original shows and an award winning news division.
Hudlin has been honored by the NAACP, The American Civil Liberties Union, The United Negro College Fund, The Sundance Film Festival, The American Film Institute, The San Diego Comic Con, The African American Film Critics Association, and many more venerable organizations.
PHIL GURIN
THE GURIN COMPANY and Award-Winning Producer/Writer Phil Gurin have been creating, acquiring, selling, and producing entertainment programs all over the world. The Gurin Company is responsible for executive producing, creating and writing thousands of hours of television across multiple genres including live events, game, music, hidden camera, comedy, stunt, clip shows, factual, documentary, dramatic re-enactment, docusoaps and formatted reality. The Gurin Company’s shows have aired on every major U.S. broadcast network, many cable networks, and in over 185 countries around the world.
Gurin has won four Prime Time Emmy Awards as an Executive Producer on ABC’s Shark Tank, and an international Rose d’Or (Golden Rose) for the comedy game show Oh Sit! which he co-created for The CW. His The Singing Bee (NBC/CMT) is one of the Top 30 most produced original formats in the world.
He has also produced and written many other formats, including Weakest Link, Lingo, Test The Nation, Candid Camera, Double Dare, Remote Control, Your Chance To Dance, Wanna Bet?, All-New 3’s A Crowd, Make The Grade, Win Lose or Pawn, So You Think You’d Survive, FOX’s New Year’s Eve Live, Women Rock, US Olympic Hall of Fame, KISS: Live, Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Universe. His newest original format Fridge Wars debuted on the CBC (Canada) and aired last summer in the US on The CW. In early 2020 he Executive Produced his 7th NAACP Image Awards (which aired live across 9 Viacom-owned channels), and in June 2020 he Executive Produced Movies of The Movement for TBS/TNT/truTV.
On the documentary side, he has produced and/or written several projects including When Cameras Cross the Line, Split Second Decision, On Thin Ice: The Dark Side of Skating, Hollywood’s Greatest Stunts, Holocaust: The Revenge Plot (nominated for a Royal Television Society Award), and is currently in production on the feature doc Brothers At War: The Long View.
Gurin serves on the Board of Directors for NATPE (National Association of Television and Programming Executives) where he developed the NATPE REALITY annual conference and market; is Co-Chairman of the international non-profit organization FRAPA (Format Recognition and Protection Association) and he served for the TELEVISION ACADEMY on the Executive Committee of the Producers’ Peer Group and helped develop and launch the prestigious TV ACADEMY HONORS awards. He moderates panels and speaks frequently on the topics of global television and format rights, creation and protection.
BYRON W. PHILLIPS
CO-Executive Producer
Over the course of his career, Phillips has developed and produced both content and strategic plans across all major media platforms, including television, film, music, digital, and gaming. Phillips also has extensive experience in most functional areas of the media business, having served in the capacity of Executive Vice President & General Manager for both Disney and Viacom operating units.
Most recently, Phillips served as Producer, and/or Executive Producer on the following projects: Producer, “Muscle” (STX)- upcoming feature film; Producer, “Black Wall Street” (Sierra Affinity)- upcoming feature film; Co-EP, “Showtime at the Apollo” (Fox)-specials; EP, “45th-51st(CBS, TV-One, BET) NAACP Image Awards”; Supervising Producer, “The 88th Academy Awards”; Producer, “The Black Godfather” (Netflix) feature documentary about Clarence Avant; EP, “Primetime Emmy Awards” (ABC); EP, “Phat Tuesday” (Amazon) Comedy Docuseries; EP, “Bear Witness Take Action 1 and 2”(YouTube) Social Justice Special; EP, “Movies of the Movement” (TNT).
Phillips served as Executive Vice President of Entertainment for BET Networks (a Viacom company). In that capacity, he along with Reginald Hudlin oversaw the development and production of all network content. Together they created BET’s first original programming slate. During his tenure, Phillips oversaw the production of over 50 shows, Additionally, Phillips lead the creation of BET’s Home Entertainment Division.
Prior to BET, Phillips served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Hollywood Records (a Disney company), where he oversaw development, recording, marketing, and promotion of all recording artist. While at Disney, Phillips established a number of strategic partnerships, including a venture between EA Sports and Disney.
Phillips received a B.A. in Economics from the University Of California Los Angeles and a M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
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