Author: Idan Naftali

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Rihanna gave an impactful speech as she received the 2020 NAACP Image President’s Award.

We may not yet have a new album from Rihanna, but we did get one hell of a speech when she took to the stage to accept the President’s Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards Saturday night. The honor is historically bestowed upon an individual who has made a clear and vested commitment toward promoting diversity and working toward the advancements of minorities in their communities and beyond. As Rih accepted the prize, she extended on these same tenets to deliver on a stirring speech before the audience gathered in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Rihanna NAACP Image Awards

Rich Fury/Getty Images

“Tonight is not really about me. The purpose is bigger than me. It’s not bigger than us together, but it’s bigger than me. My part is a very small part of the work that’s being done in this world, and the work that is yet to be done,” Rihanna began, receiving warm applause within her first remarks. “We can only fix this world together. We cannot do it divided. I cannot emphasize that enough.”

She went on to touch on the pitfalls of casting off another race or gender’s problems if they don’t necessarily apply to you, urging the crowd before her and the fans at home to encourage their friends of other races to get involved in the issues that matter to them.

“This is their problem, too. So when we’re marching and protesting and posting about the Michael Brown Jrs and the Tatiana Jeffersons of the world, tell your friends to pull up.”

Watch her full speech below.

Music

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See the top winners from the NAACP Image Awards

Saturday night, the 51st annual NAACP Image Awards got underway as the organization continued its tradition in honoring exceptional entertainers, artists, and creators of color over the past year. This time around top honors went to the likes of Rihanna, whose philanthropic work earned her the lauded President’s Award, Lizzo, who took home the top-seeded Entertainer Of The Year award, and even Blue Ivy Carter, who earned her first award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, sharing the win with her mother, Beyoncé, Saint JHN, and Wizkid.

Elsewhere actress and producer Marsai Martin had a fruitful night as the 15-year-old wunderkind scored wins for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture for her Little major motion debut in addition to Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Performance by a Youth for her role in Black-ish.

Robin L Marshall/Getty Images

Catch the full List of NAACP Image Award winners below:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Angela Bassett
Billy Porter
Lizzo: WINNER
Regina King
Tyler Perry

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Motion Picture
“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
“Harriet” (Focus Features)
“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures): WINNER
“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
“Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Chadwick Boseman – “21 Bridges” (STX Films)
Daniel Kaluuya – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
Eddie Murphy – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
Michael B. Jordan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures): WINNER
Winston Duke – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Alfre Woodard – “Clemency” (Neon)
Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
Lupita Nyong’o – “Us” (Universal Pictures): WINNER
Naomie Harris – “Black and Blue” (Screen Gems/Sony Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Jamie Foxx – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures): WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr. – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
Sterling K. Brown – “Waves” (A24)
Tituss Burgess – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)
Wesley Snipes – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
Janelle Monáe – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
Jennifer Lopez – “Hustlers” (STX Films)
Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures): WINNER
Octavia Spencer – “Luce” (Neon)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures): WINNER
Rob Morgan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Shahadi Wright Joseph – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
“Harriet” (Focus Features)
“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures): WINNER
“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
“Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Clemency” (Neon)
“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix): WINNER
“Luce” (Neon)
“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)
Alfre Woodard – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
Donald Glover – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
James Earl Jones – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios): WINNER
Lupita Nyong’o – “Serengeti” (Discovery Channel)
Sterling K. Brown – “Frozen II” (Walt Disney Studios)

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series
“Ballers” (HBO)
“black-ish” (ABC): WINNER
“Dear White People” (Netflix)
“grown-ish” (Freeform)
“The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC): WINNER
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Don Cheadle – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO)
Tracy Morgan – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Logan Browning – “Dear White People” (Netflix)
Jill Scott – “First Wives Club” (BET+)
Tiffany Haddish – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)
Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish ” (ABC): WINNER
Yara Shahidi – “grown-ish” (Freeform)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Deon Cole – “black-ish” (ABC): WINNER
Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC)
Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Tituss Burgess – “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Halle Bailey – “grown-ish” (Freeform)
Loretta Devine – “Family Reunion” (Netflix)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC): WINNER
Regina Hall – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Drama Series
“Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
“Greenleaf” (OWN): WINNER
“Queen Sugar” (OWN)
“The Chi” (Showtime)
“Watchmen” (HBO)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Billy Porter – “Pose” (FX Networks)
Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Kofi Siriboe – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz): WINNER
Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (FOX): WINNER
Regina King – “Watchmen” (HBO)
Rutina Wesley – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Simone Missick – “All Rise” (CBS)
Viola Davis – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Delroy Lindo – “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access)
Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Harold Perrineau – “Claws” (TNT): WINNER
Nigél Thatch – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
C.C.H. Pounder – “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS)
Lynn Whitfield – “Greenleaf” (OWN): WINNER
Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Susan Kelechi Watson – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Tina Lifford – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
“American Son” (Netflix)
“Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
“Native Son” (HBO)
“True Detective” (HBO)
“When They See Us” (Netflix): WINNER

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Ethan Henry Herisse – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America)
Jharrel Jerome – “When They See Us” (Netflix): WINNER
Mahershala Ali – “True Detective” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Aunjanue Ellis – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
Kerry Washington – “American Son” (Netflix)
Niecy Nash – “When They See Us” (Netflix): WINNER
Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV Plus)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools” (PBS)
“Surviving R. Kelly” (Lifetime)
“The Breakfast Club” (Re)
“The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” (National Geographic)
“Unsung” (TV One): WINNER

Outstanding Talk Series
“Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch): WINNER
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“The Real” (Syndicated)
“The Shop: Uninterrupted” (HBO)
“The Tamron Hall Show” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show
“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
“Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
“Rhythm + Flow” (Netflix): WINNER
“Sunday Best” (BET Networks)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“2019 Black Girls Rock!” (BET Networks)
“Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones” (Netflix)
“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix): WINNER
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Wanda Sykes: Not Normal” (Netflix)

Outstanding Children’s Program
“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
“Family Reunion” (Netflix): WINNER
“Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History” (Netflix)
“Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest” (Disney XD)
“Motown Magic” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Lonnie Chavis – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC): WINNER
Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Angela Rye – “Young Gifted and Broke: A BET Town Hall” (BET Networks)
Jada Pinkett Smith – “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch): WINNER
Lester Holt – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” (NBC)
Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman, Ana Navarro – “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Iyanla Vanzant – “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
LL Cool J – “Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
Regina Hall – “2019 BET Awards” (BET Networks)
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC): WINNER
Wayne Brady – “Let’s Make A Deal” (CBS)

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series
Blair Underwood – “Dear White People” (Netflix)
David Alan Grier – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Kelly Rowland – “American Soul” (BET Networks): WINNER
MAJOR. – “STAR” (FOX)
Sanaa Lathan – “The Affair” (Showtime)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool” (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
“The Black Godfather” (Netflix)
“The Apollo” (HBO)
“Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” (Magnolia Pictures): WINNER
“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” (HBO)

Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special)
“Free Meek” (Prime Video)
“Hitsville: The Making of Motown” (Showtime): WINNER
“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)
“Martin: The Legacy of A King” (BET Networks)
“ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke” (Netflix)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Cord Jefferson – “The Good Place” – Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy (NBC): WINNER
Gloria Calderon Kellett, Mike Royce – “One Day at a Time” – Ghosts (Netflix)
Jason Kim – “Barry” – Past=Present x Future Over Yesterday (HBO)
Karen Gist, Peter Saji – “Mixed-ish” – Let Your Hair Down (ABC)
Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Steve King’s Comments Meet Trevor Noah: Racism Detective (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Ava DuVernay, Michael Starrbury – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)
Damon Lindelof, Cord Jefferson – “Watchmen” – The Extraordinary Being (HBO)
Nichelle Tramble Spellman – “Truth Be Told” – Monster (Apple TV+): WINNER
Nkechi Okoro Carroll – “All American” – Hussle & Motivate (The CW)
Pat Charles – “Black Lightning” – The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal Son (The CW)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Cas Sigers-Beedles – “Twas the Chaos Before Christmas” (BET)
Melissa Bustamante – “A Christmas Winter Song” (Lifetime)
Patrik-Ian Polk – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
Suzan-Lori Parks – “Native Son” (HBO): WINNER
Yvette Nicole Brown – “Always a Bridesmaid” (BET Networks) 51st NAACP Image Awards’ Nominees Announcement Release

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Chinonye Chukwu – “Clemency” (Neon)
Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Doug Atchison – “Brian Banks” (Bleeker Street and ShivHans)
Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures): WINNER
Kasi Lemmons, Gregory Allen Howard – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

 

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Anya Adams – “GLOW” – Outward Bound (Netflix): WINNER
Justin Tipping – “Black Monday” -7042 (Showtime)
Ken Whittingham – “Atypical” – Road Rage Paige (Netflix)
Randall Winston – “Grace and Frankie” – The Pharmacy (Netflix)
Shaka King – “Shrill” – Pool (Hulu)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Ava DuVernay – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)
Carl H. Seaton, Jr. – “Snowfall” – Hedgehogs (FX Networks)
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson – “Power” – Forgot About Dre (STARZ): WINNER
Debbie Allen – “Grey’s Anatomy” – Silent All These Years (ABC)
Jet Wilkinson – “The Chi” – The Scorpion and the Frog (Showtime)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Codie Elaine Oliver – “Black Love” (OWN)
Janice Cooke – “I Am Sombody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story (Lifetime)
Kenny Leon – “American Son” (Netflix)
Rashid Johnson – “Native Son (HBO): WINNER
Russ Parr – “The Bobby Debarge Story” (TV One)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix): WINNER
Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Kasi Lemmons – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
Mati Diop – “Atlantics” (Les Films du Bal Presente en Co-Production avec Cinekap et Frakas Productions en Co-Production avec Arte France Cinema et Canal+ International for Netflix)
Reginald Hudlin – “The Black Godfather” (Netflix)

 

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Album
“Cuz I Love You” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“Homecoming: The Live Album” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
“I Used To Know H.E.R.” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
“Sketchbook” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
“Worthy” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)

Outstanding New Artist
Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
Lil Nas X (Columbia Records): WINNER
Lucky Daye (Keep Cool/RCA Records)
Mahalia (Burkmar/Warner Music UK)
Mykal Kilgore (Affective Music)

Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records): WINNER
Khalid (RCA Records)
Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
MAJOR. (BOE Music Group/EMPIRE)
PJ Morton (Morton Records)

Outstanding Female Artist
Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
H.E.R. (RCA Records)
India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Song – Traditional
“Enough” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
“Jerome” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“Spirit” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
“Stand Up” – Cynthia Erivo (Back Lot Music)
“Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“Before I Let Go” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
“Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
“Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)
“Motivation” – Normani (Keep Cool/RCA Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“Brown Skin Girl” – Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, Beyoncé & Wizkid (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records)
“Say So” – PJ Morton feat. JoJo (Morton Records/EMPIRE)
“Shea Butter Baby” – Ari Lennox feat. J. Cole (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
“Show Me Love” – Alicia Keys feat. Miguel (RCA Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album
“Carib” – David Sanchez (Ropeadope)
“Center of The Heart” – Najee (Shanachie)
“Love & Liberation” – Jazzmeia Horn (Concord Jazz): WINNER
“SoulMate” – Nathan Mitchell (Enm Music Group)
“The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron” – Vanessa Rubin (Vanessa Rubin)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary)
“I Made It Out” – John P. Kee feat. Zacardi Cortez (Kee Music Group/Entertainment One)
“Laughter” – Bebe Winans feat. Korean Soul (Regimen Records)
“Love Theory” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Records/RCA Records): WINNER
“Not Yet” – Donnie McClurkin (Camdon Music/RCA Inspiration)
“Victory” – The Clark Sisters (Karew Records/Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
“Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records): WINNER
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records)
“Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
“Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Terence Blanchard (Back Lot Music)
“Queen & Slim The Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Motown Records)
“The Lion King: The Gift” – Beyoncé w/Various Artists (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records): WINNER
“The Lion King Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Walt Disney Records)
“Us (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Michael Abels (Back Lot Music)

 

LITERATURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“New Daughters of Africa” – Margaret Busby (HarperCollins Publishers)
“Out of Darkness, Shining Light” – Petina Gappah (Simon and Schuster)
“Red at the Bone” – Jacqueline Woodson (Riverhead Books PRH)
“The Revisioners” – Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counter Point Press): WINNER
“The Water Dancer” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
“Breathe: A Letter to My Sons” – Dr. Imani Perry (Beacon Press)
“Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow” – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Penguin Press)
“The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations” – Toni Morrison (Alfred A. Knopf): WINNER
“The Yellow House” – Sarah M. Broom (Grove Atlantic)
“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays” – Damon Young (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (Random House)
“I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer” – Hal Banfield (Author), Javier Vasquez (Illustrator), (Literary Revolutionary): WINNER
“More Than Pretty: Doing The Soul Work To Uncover Your True Beauty ” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)
“Such A Fun Age” – Kiley Reid (Penguin Publishing Group)
“The Farm” – Joanne Ramos (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System” – Cyntoia Brown-Long (Atria Books)
“Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward” – Valerie Jarrett (Viking Press)
“More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)” – Elaine Welteroth (Viking Press): WINNER
“My Name Is Prince” – Randee St. Nicholas (HarperCollins Publishers)
“The Beautiful Ones” – Prince (Author), Dan Piepenbring (Edited by), (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Inspire Your Home: Easy, Affordable Ideas to Make Every Room Glamorous” – Farah Merhi (Tiller Press)
“Letters to the Finishers (who struggle to finish)” – Candace E. Wilkins (New Season Books)
“More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work that Uncovers Your True Beauty” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)
“Vegetables Unleashed” – José Andres (HarperCollins Publishers)
“Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, And Opportunity For Black Women In America” – Karen Arrington (Author), Joanna Price (Illustrator), Sheryl Taylor (Forward) (Mango Publishing): WINNER

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration of African American Women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland” – DaMaris B. Hill (Bloomsbury Publishing)
“Felon: Poems” – Reginald Dwayne Betts (W.W. Norton Company): WINNER
“Honeyfish” – Lauren K. Alleyne (New Issues Poetry and Prose)
“Mistress” – Chet’la Sebree (New Issue Poetry and Prose)
“The Tradition” – Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation” – Barry Wittenstein (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator), (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House Publishing Inc)
“Hair Love” – Matthew A. Cherry (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Kokila)
“Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment” – Parker Curry (Author), Jessica Curry (Author), Brittany Jackson (Illustrator), (Aladdin Books)
“Ruby Finds a Worry” – Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Publishing)
“Sulwe” – Lupita Nyong’o (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, BFYR): WINNER

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Around Harvard Square” – C.J. Farley (Akashic Books): WINNER
“Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to Walk” – Meredith Davis (Author), Rebeka Uwitonze (Author), (Scholastic Inc.)
“Hot Comb” – Ebony Flowers (Author), Ebony Flowers (Illustrator), (Drawn and Quarterly)
“I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” – Gilly Segal (Author), Kimberly Jones (Author), (Sourcebooks Fire)
“The Forgotten Girl” – India Hill Brown (Scholastic Inc.)

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The Roots were bestowed with a street in their hometown.

The Roots are being honored in Philadelphia in a major way as the legendary hip-hop group and Philly natives are set to be honored with a stretch of East Passyunk in the city of Brotherly Love, officially earning them what is now Avenue Of The Roots.

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, the red signage was already placed at the 600 Block of Passyunk on Friday. A dedication ceremony to commemorate the moment and honor their legacy will take place during the last week of May 2020, coinciding with the timeline of this year’s Roots Picnic.

“….does this mean WHAT I THINK IT MEANS!!!???!!!???” de facto frontman Questlove penned in a caption on Instagram. “[H]ell of a way to find out!!!! WOW!!!!!”

The legislation was originally proposed by activist Leroy McCarthy, the same individual allegedly behind moves to have streets named after the likes of The Notorious B.I.G., Phife Dawg, and Tupac Shakur. It was Philadelphia City Council legislator Mark Squilla who officially introduced the resolution that led to the establishment of Avenue of the Roots.

“I am happy that Avenue of the Roots is getting done, happy for hip-hop, happy for Philly and beyond. Plus, this is Black History Month in the making,” McCarthy said in a statement. “Congrats to The Roots and Team Roots for putting in the work over the years. This honor is well deserved. It took hard work to get this done, and the overall efforts for hip-hop recognition, but this is bigger than me — doing it for the culture, and hip-hop don’t stop. I’m looking forward to the street dedication in May 2020.”

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Megan Thee Stallion & Teyana Taylor Twerk Closely As Trey Songz Readies To Risk It All
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Red Bull and Teyana Taylor team up for “Assembly Required,” a detailed account of her journey to “House Of Petunia.”

Teyana Taylor might not actually get as much credit as she deserves for just how much creative control goes behind her music. The G.O.O.D Music singer teamed up with Red Bull last year for the House Of Petunia show which they described as her “most ambitious show to date.” Bringing her vision to life, Teyana Taylor was leading every aspect of the performance which ultimately took place at Red Bull Music Festival New York.

Taylor brought Red Bull cameras into her world as she plotted out the show as they capture a glimpse into her world. Balancing her family and professional life all at once, Assembly Required: Teyana Taylor’s House Of Petunia give fans an up-close look at her life leading up to her big performance.

“I’m starting my own house. It’s gonna be called House of Petunia. It’s all my visions brought to life,” Teyana explains in the film. “The House of Petunia will be my most ambitious show to date. I’m extremely nervous because the show means a lot to me.”

The documentary runs for over an hour in length with appearances and cameos from Nikki Taylor — Teyana’s mom and manager — Iman Shumpert, the band director Carrington, and lead choreographer, Coco Gilbert. Usher, Fabolous and Method Man also make appearances in the doc.

Peep the documentary in full below.

Music

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Recently obtained documents dealing with the legal proceedings of Prince’s estate put its value at a whopping $200 million.

The ongoing legal proceedings regarding the estate of late music legend Prince has seen a handful of unfortunate circumstances, including a lien issued by a lawyer for the amount of $1 million for unpaid legal fees he said is owed to him by Prince’s late brother Alfred Jackson. That situation actually led to a reported number being put on the value of the whole estate, which now is set at $200 million.


Patrick Riviere/Getty Images

The Blast is reporting to have obtained documents from the legal battle relating to Alfred’s portion of the fortune that was left to him after Prince died back on April 21, 2016. Jackson was one of six heirs set to divide Prince’s massive fortune that he made for himself over the span of his trail-blazing career. Unfortunately, Alfred himself died at his home in Missouri on August 28, 2019 before the ongoing estate proceedings were officially settled, and now it looks like things just got even more confusing.

Here’s what The Blast is saying on how things are being handled now:

“After Prince’s death on April 21, 2016, it was determined that Alred [sic] had 1/6 expectancy interest in the entire Prince Estate, which has a potential gross value of $200,000,000,” the documents reveal.

At the time of Alfred’s death, his brother Shawn Jackson filed documents in Missouri challenging a will that was filed on behalf of Alfred’s business advisors.

In the purported will, Alfred’s share of the Prince fortune, approximately $33 Million, would go to his business advisor and his team who helped set up the sale of his stake in the estate to a corporation. As we reported, Prince’s sister also sold her stake of the fortune.

Alfred’s brother, Shawn, is challenging the will and a battle is now raging in Missouri over who will be the administrator of Alfred’s estate.”

It appears that Shawn’s rebuttal is influenced by the fact that Alfred wasn’t in the proper mental state to make decisions of that magnitude at the time, especially being that he reportedly suffered from Parkinson’s disease and took “psychiatric drugs” like Haloperidol for the illness.

We’re praying that for sake of Prince’s legacy and rightfully-earned fortune, all of this can be settled in the least problematic way possible. We believe The Purple One would’ve wanted it that way. Take a look back on this classic record by Prince, who happens to be Google’s most-searched guitar solo king:

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