Angela Bassett Wins Big At NAACP Image Awards 2023

The NAACP Image Awards are fast becoming more interesting and more-beloved than other award shows with less diversity. Not only is the show a who’s-who of entertainment, but it is a showcase of who’s-who in pop culture that genuinely resonates with African-Americans. Overall, the awards honor people in more than 80 categories.

Notably, Angela Bassett reiterated that she “did the thing” (a nod to a much-scoffed-at-but-clearly-worked-out-well viral rap by Ariana Debose at the BAFTAFTA
Awards) while picking up a statuette for Entertainer of the Year for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. (Her competition included Mary J. Blige, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya for that top win.) Wakanda Forever also won for Outstanding Motion Picture with competition from A Jazzman’s Blues, Emancipation, Till and The Woman King. This was the first in-person NAACP Awards since February 2020.

In the days prior to the awards, which ran on BET, the NAACP honored new category winners for hairstyling, make-up and costume design via virtual ceremonies. There are also awards for writing, directing and podcasting. Black actors, black podcasts and black entertainers in general tend to be the tastemakers and culture setters for the American public, so keeping track of the Image Awards gives you a future-looking snapshot of U.S. culture. In today’s crowded content marketplace, the Image Award winners (and nominees) are often a good way to sort through what’s worth watching.

Here are additional winners.

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Will Smith, Emancipation

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Viola Davis, The Woman King

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Tenoch Huerta, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Drama Series

P-Valley

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Nicco Annan, P-Valley

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett,9-1-1

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Loretta Devine, P-Valley

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

The Best Man: The Final Chapters

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Morris Chestnut, The Best Man: The Final Chapters

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Niecy Nash-Betts, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Keith David, From Scratch

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Nia Long, The Best Man: The Final Chapters