The 47th Image Awards, was presented by the NAACP, commemorating roles, talents, and achievements of people of color in film, television, music and literature during the 2015 calendar year. This ceremony was hosted for the third time by Anthony Anderson on the TV One network.
American singer, songwriter and record producer John Legend received the President's Award for his humanitarian efforts, promoting the voting rights in the United States, education reform for all races and ethnicities and to be "widely read with respect to public policy reform, social justice reform and criminal justice reform". American actor and singer Jussie Smollett, Brittany "Bree" Newsome, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesle, Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and the institution The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter and Justice League NYC, were honored with the Chairman's Award.
All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in bold.
Special awards President's Award John LegendChairman's AwardBrittany "Bree" Newsome Justice League NYC The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant Jussie SmollettEntertainer of the YearMichael B. Jordan Misty Copeland Pharrell Williams Shonda Rhimes Viola Davis
Motion Picture
Awards adapted by Variety.
Outstanding Motion Picture
Straight Outta Compton Beasts of No Nation Concussion Creed Dope
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan - Creed Abraham Attah - Beasts of No Nation Chiwetel Ejiofor - Secret in Their Eyes Michael Ealy - The Perfect Guy Will Smith - Concussion
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Sanaa Lathan - The Perfect Guy Keke Palmer - Brotherly Love Teyonah Parris - Chi-Raq Viola Davis - Lila and Eve Zoe Saldaña - Infinitely Polar Bear
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
O'Shea Jackson Jr. - Straight Outta Compton Chiwetel Ejiofor - The Martian Corey Hawkins - Straight Outta Compton Forest Whitaker - Southpaw Idris Elba - Beasts of No Nation
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Phylicia Rashad - Creed Angela Bassett - Chi-Raq Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Concussion Jennifer Hudson - Chi-Raq Tessa Thompson - Creed
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington - Creed Andrea Berloff and Jonathan Herman and Alan Wenkus - Straight Outta Compton Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois, and Grant Thompson - McFarland USA Rick Famuyiwa - Dope
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture, Television
Lawrence Hill and Clement Virgo - The Book of Negroes Dee Rees, and Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois - Bessie Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein - White Water Nzingha Stewart - With This Ring Shem Bitterman - Whitney
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler - Creed Rick Famuyiwa - Dope Alfonso Gomez-Rejon - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Charles Stone III - Lila and Eve F. Gary Gray - Straight Outta Compton
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, Television
Dee Rees - Bessie Christine Swanson - For the Love of Ruth Nzingha Stewart - With This Ring Rusty Cundieff - White Water Salim Akil - The Start Up
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Beasts of No Nation Brotherly Love Chi-Raq Infinitely Polar Bear Secret in Their Eyes
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series black-ish House of Lies Key & Peele Orange is the New Black Survivor's Remorse
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson - black-ish Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine Don Cheadle - House of Lies Dwayne Johnson - Ballers RonReaco Lee - Survivor's Remorse
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross - black-ish Gina Rodriguez - Jane The Virgin Loretta Devine - The Carmichael Show Uzo Aduba - Orange is the New Black Wendy Raquel Robinson - The Game
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Mike Epps - Survivor's Remorse David Alan Grier - The Carmichael Show Laurence Fishburne - black-ish Miles Brown - black-ish Terry Crews - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Marsai Martin - black-ish Anna Deavere Smith - Nurse Jackie Danielle Brooks - Orange is the New Black Laverne Cox - Orange is the New Black Tichina Arnold - Survivor's Remorse
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Kenya Barris: The Word - black-ish Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari : Master of None - Parents Jennie Snyder Urman: Chapter Twenty-Three - Jane The Virgin Jill Soloway: Kina Hora - Transparent Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Phil Augusta Jackson, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders, and Rich Talarico: Y'all Ready For This? - Key & Peele
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Don Cheadle - The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule - House of Lies Aziz Ansari: Master of None - Parents Brad Silberling: Chapter Twenty-Three - Jane The Virgin Peter Atencio: The End - Key & Peele Stan Lathan: Cabin Pressure - Real Husbands of Hollywood
Outstanding Drama Series Empire Being Mary Jane How to Get Away with Murder Power Scandal
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Terrence Howard - Empire LL Cool J - NCIS: Los Angeles Morris Chestnut - Rosewood Omari Hardwick - Power Wesley Snipes - The Player
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Taraji P. Henson - Empire Gabrielle Union - Being Mary Jane Kerry Washington - Scandal Nicole Beharie - Sleepy Hollow Viola Davis - How to Get Away With Murder
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Joe Morton - Scandal Alfred Enoch - How to Get Away with Murder Bryshere Y. Gray - Empire Guillermo Díaz - Scandal Jussie Smollett - Empire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Regina King - American Crime Cicely Tyson - How to Get Away with Murder Danai Gurira - The Walking Dead Grace Gealey - Empire Naturi Naughton - Power
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
Mara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, and Keli Goff : Sparrow - Being Mary Jane Erika Green Swafford and Doug Stockstill: Mama's Here Now - How to Get Away with Murder John Ridley: Episode 1 - American Crime LaToya Morgan: False Flag - Turn: Washingtons Spies Lee Daniels and Danny Strong: Pilot - Empire
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series John Ridley: Episode 1 - American Crime Ernest Dickerson: Welcome the Stranger - Hand of God Lee Daniels : Pilot - Empire Millicent Shelton: Episode Ten - American Crime Salim Akil: Sparrow - Being Mary Jane
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
The Wiz Live! American Crime Bessie Luther The Book of Negroes
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
David Alan Grier - The Wiz Live! Cuba Gooding Jr. - The Book of Negroes David Oyelowo - Nightingale Idris Elba - Luther Michael Kenneth Williams - Bessie
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Queen Latifah - Bessie Angela Bassett - American Horror Story: Hotel Aunjanue Ellis - The Book of Negroes Jill Scott - With this Ring LaTanya Richardson Jackson - Show Me a Hero
Outstanding News Information – Series or Special
Unsung Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm News One Now Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years Later Oprah: Where Are They Now?
Outstanding Talk Series
The Talk Melissa Harris-Perry Steve Harvey The Daily Show with Trevor Noah The Wendy Williams Show
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
Welcome to Sweetie Pie's Dancing with the Stars Iyanla: Fix My Life Shark Tank The Voice
Outstanding Variety, Series or Special
Family Feud Black Girls Rock! Oprah's Master Class The Daily Show with Trevor Noah The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Outstanding Children's Program
Doc McStuffins Dora and Friends K.C. Undercover Little Ballers Project Mc2
Outstanding Performance by a Youth - Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series
Marcus Scribner - black-ish Hudson Yang - Fresh Off The Boat Marsai Martin - black-ish Miles Brown - black-ish Skai Jackson - Jessie
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special)
Steve Harvey - Family Feud Melissa Harris-Perry - Melissa Harris-Perry Bryant Gumbel - Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Trevor Noah - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Larry Wilmore - The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Documentary
Outstanding Documentary
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Amy Dreamcatcher In My Father's House What Happened, Miss Simone?
Outstanding Documentary, Television
Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand Belief Kareem: Minority of One Light Girls
Animated
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Television or Film
Loretta Devine - Doc McStuffins Aisha Tyler - Archer Audra McDonald - Doc McStuffins Jeffrey Wright - The Good Dinosaur Wanda Sykes - Penn Zero
Music
Outstanding New Artist
Jussie Smollett Andra Day Judith Hill The Weeknd Yazz
Outstanding Male Artist
Pharrell Williams Charlie Wilson Kendrick Lamar The Weeknd Tyrese Gibson
Outstanding Female Artist
Jill Scott Janet Jackson Jazmine Sullivan Lalah Hathaway Lauryn Hill
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Empire Cast featuring Estelle & Jussie Smollett - Conqueror Original Broadway Cast - Hamilton: An American Musical Janet Jackson featuring J. Cole - No Sleeep Big Sean featuring Kanye West and John Legend - One Man Can Change The World Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Outstanding Jazz Album
Miles Davis - Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 Terell Stafford Quintet - BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra - Dee Dee's Feathers Erroll Garner - The Complete Concert By The Sea Kamasi Washington - The Epic
Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or Contemporary
Tina Campbell - It's Personal Kim Burrell - A Different Place Kirk Franklin - Losing My Religion Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV Marvin Sapp - You Shall Live
Outstanding Music Video
Tyrese Gibson - Shame The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face Pharrell Williams - Freedom Janet Jackson featuring J. Cole - No Sleeep Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Outstanding Song, Contemporary
Empire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz - You're So Beautiful Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett - Conqueror Pharrell Williams - Freedom Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole - No Sleeep Janet Jackson - Unbreakable
Outstanding Song, Traditional
Jill Scott - Back Together Seal - Every Time I'm with You Lauryn Hill - Feeling Good Charlie Wilson - Goodnight Kisses Jazmine Sullivan - Let It Burn
Outstanding Album
Jill Scott - Woman The Weeknd - Beauty Behind the Madness Empire Cast - Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1 Charlie Wilson - Forever Charlie Janet Jackson - Unbreakable
Literature
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
Victoria Christopher Murrary- Stand Your Ground Ravi Howard - Driving the King Tananarive Due - Ghost Summer: Stories ReShonda Tate Billingsley - Mama's Boy Chinelo Okparanta - Under the Udala Trees
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga - Pamela Newkirk 50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership - Kathey Porter and Andrea Hoffman Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America - Jill Leovy SHOWDOWN: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America - Wil Haygood The Light of the World - Elizabeth Alexander
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
The Fishermen - Chigozie Obioma Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates The Star Side of Bird Hill - Naomi Jackson