NAACP Image Awards: Ayo Edebiri, Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Keke Palmer Among Night One Non-Televised Winners
The first of the 2025 NAACP Image Awards’ winners were presented in a virtual, non-televised ceremony on Tuesday night.
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, which scored nine nominations, won two awards on Tuesday — best supporting actress for Taraji P. Henson and best supporting actor for Samuel L. Jackson. Children’s show Gracie’s Corner also won two awards.
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Other notable winners announced Tuesday include Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was, which won for outstanding variety (series or special); The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri, who won for outstanding breakthrough creative (TV); The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat director Tina Mabry, who won for best directing in a TV movie or special; How to Die Alone‘s Tiffany Johnson, who won for best directing in a comedy series, with the award coming just two weeks after Hulu canceled the series following its first season; and Keke Palmer, who won for hosting Password.
More non-televised winners will be announced on Wednesday night ahead of the Creative Honors on Friday. The televised 2025 NAACP Image Awards ceremony will air on BET and CBS at 8 p.m. Saturday from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Dave Chappelle, former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Wayans family are among this year’s honorees.
The awards will also support the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the recent L.A. wildfires. The NAACP, BET Media Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett and Kole (JSSK) have partnered with L.A. County and — in collaboration with organizations like Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA — launched the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, designed to protect homeowners from displacement and preserve the community’s cultural heritage.
A complete list of Tuesday night’s winners follows.
Outstanding Children’s Program
Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney+)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV) (WINNER)
Sesame Street (MAX)
Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)
Caleb Elijah — Cross (Amazon Prime Video)
Graceyn Hollingsworth — Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
Leah Sava Jeffries — Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+) (WINNER)
Melody Hurd — Cross (Amazon Prime Video)
TJ Mixson — The Madness (Netflix)
Outstanding Animated Series
Disney Jr.’s Ariel (Disney Jr.)
Everybody Still Hates Chris (Comedy Central)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV) (WINNER)
Iwájú (Disney+)
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Angela Bassett — Orion and the Dark (Netflix)
Cree Summer — Rugrats (Nickelodeon) (WINNER)
Cree Summer — The Legend of Vox Machina (Amazon Prime Video)
Dawnn Lewis — Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
Keke Palmer — The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (Amazon Prime Video)
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde — Tia Williams (Grand Central Publishing – Hachette Book Group)
Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson (Harper – HarperCollins Publishers)
Neighbors and Other Stories — Diane Oliver, Tayari Jones (Foreword) (Grove Atlantic)
One of Us Knows: A Thriller — Alyssa Cole (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers) (WINNER)
What You Leave Behind — Wanda M. Morris (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune — Noliwe Rooks (Penguin Press – Penguin Books)
Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest — Fawn Weaver (Melcher Media Inc.) (WINNER)
Picturing Black History: Photographs and Stories that Changed the World — Daniela Edmeier, Damarius Johnson, Nicholas B. Breyfogle and Steven Conn (Abrams Books – Harry N. Abrams)
The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience — Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine (Clarkson Potter – Crown Publishing Group)
The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America — Larry Tye (Mariner Books – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
A Kind of Madness — Uche Okonkwo (Tin House Books)
AfroCentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture — Shirley Neal (HarperCollins Amistad)
Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson (Harper – HarperCollins Publishers) (WINNER)
Masquerade — O.O. Sangoyomi (Forge Books – Tor Publishing Group)
Swift River — Essie Chambers (Simon & Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me — Whoopi Goldberg (Blackstone Publishing)
By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness ― Her Story in Her Own Words — Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins (Forefront Books)
Do It Anyway: Don’t Give Up Before It Gets Good — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Sarah Jakes Roberts (Foreword) (WaterBrook – Penguin Random House)
Lovely One: A Memoir — Ketanji Brown Jackson (Random House)
Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America — JoyAnn Reid (Mariner Books – HarperCollins Publishers) (WINNER)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
Black Joy Playbook: 30 Days of Intentionally Reclaiming Your Delight — Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggets (Ink & Willow – Penguin Random House)
I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free (A Feeding the Soul Book) — Tabitha Brown (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers)
Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guide to Closing the Space Between Us — Chanté Griffin (WaterBrook – Penguin Random House)
Radical Self-Care: Rituals for Inner Resilience — Rebecca Moore (Author), Amberlee Green (Illustrator) (The Quarto Group/Leaping Hare Press)
Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair — Tomesha Faxio (Clarkson Potter – Crown Publishing Group) (WINNER)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
Bluff: Poems — Danez Smith (Graywolf Press)
Good Dress — Brittany Rogers (Tin House Books)
Load in Nine Times: Poems — Frank X Walker (Liveright Publishing – W.W. Norton & Company)
Song of My Softening — Omotara James (Alice James Books)
This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets — Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown and Company) (WINNER)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
All I Need to Be — Rachel Ricketts (Author), Tiffany Rose (Illustrator) with Luana Horry (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Cicely Tyson — Renée Watson (Author), Sherry Shine (Illustrator) (Amistad Books for Young Readers)
Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair — Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Ekua Holmes (Illustrator) (Candlewick Press)
My Hair Is a Book — Maisha Oso (Author), London Ladd (Illustrator) (HarperCollins Publishers)
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book — Taraji P. Henson (Author), Paul Kellam (Illustrator) (Zonderkidz – HarperCollins) (WINNER)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky — Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers)
Barracoon Adapted for Young Readers The Story of the Last Black Cargo — Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi (Adapted by), Jazzmen Lee-Johnson (Illustrator) (Amistad Books for Young Readers)
Black Star: The Door of No Return — Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York — Samarra St. Hilaire (Samarra St. Hilaire) (WINNER)
Clutch Time: A Shot Clock Novel (Shot Clock, 2) — Caron Butler and Justin A. Reynolds (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Graphic Novel
Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined — David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson (Ten Speed Graphic – Penguin Random House)
Black Defender: The Awakening — Dr. David Washington, Mr. Zhengis Tasbolatov (Illustrator), Mr. Billy Blanks (Foreword) (Washington Comix)
Gamerville — Johnnie Christmas (HarperAlley – HarperCollins Publishers)
Ghost Roast — Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Emily Cannon (Illustrator) (Versify – HarperCollins Publishers)
Punk Rock Karaoke — Bianca Xunise (Viking Books for Young Readers) (WINNER)
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
BET Awards 2024 (BET Media Group)
Deon Cole: Ok, Mister (Netflix)
Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… (Netflix) (WINNER)
Katt Williams: Woke Foke (Netflix)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Ayo Edebiri — Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Cree Summer — Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Keegan-Michael Key — Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Marlon Wayans — Bel-Air (Peacock) (WINNER)
Maya Rudolph — Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Ashley Nicole Black — Shrinking – “Changing Patterns” (Apple TV+)
Brittani Nichols — Abbott Elementary – “Breakup” (ABC)
Crystal Jenkins — No Good Deed – “Letters of Intent” (Netflix) (WINNER)
Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra From Detroit – “Chasing Ghosts” (BET+)
Jordan Temple — Abbott Elementary – “Smoking” (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Azia Squire — Bridgerton – “Tick Tock” (Netflix)
Ben Watkins — Cross – “Hero Complex” (Amazon Prime Video) (WINNER)
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith – “First Date” (Amazon Prime Video)
Geetika Lizardi — Bridgerton – “Joining of Hands” (Netflix)
Lauren Gamble — Bridgerton – “Old Friends” (Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Brandon Espy, Carl Reid — Mr. Crocket (Hulu)
Bree West, Chazitear — A Wesley South African Christmas (BET+)
Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free. (BET+) (WINNER)
Rudy Mancuso, Dan Lagana — Música (Amazon Prime Video)
Tina Mabry, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Cee Marcellus — The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Ayo Edebiri — The Bear (FX/Hulu) (WINNER)
Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra From Detroit (BET+)
Maurice Williams — The Madness (Netflix)
Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free. (BET+)
Vince Staples — The Vince Staples Show (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Brandy Norwood — Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney+)
Jayme Lawson — Genius: MLK/X (National Geographic)
Loretta Devine — Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love (Lifetime)
Sanaa Lathan — Young. Wild. Free. (BET+)
Taraji P. Henson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock) (WINNER)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Don Cheadle — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)
Luke James — Them: The Scare (Amazon Prime Video)
Ron Cephas Jones — Genius: MLK/X (National Geographic)
Samuel L. Jackson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock) (WINNER)
Terrence Howard — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary, or Special
Kelley Kali — Kemba (BET+)
Marcelo Gama — BET Awards 2024 (BET Media Group)
Shanta Fripp — Black Men’s Summit (BET Media Group)
Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free (BET+)
Tina Mabry — The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures) (WINNER)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri — The Bear – “Napkins” (FX/Hulu)
Bentley Kyle Evans — Mind Your Business – “The Reunion” (Bounce TV)
Robbie Countryman — The Upshaws – “Ain’t Broke” (Netflix)
Tiffany Johnson — How to Die Alone – “Trust No One” (Hulu) (WINNER)
William Smith — The Vince Staples Show – “Brown Family” (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Carl Franklin — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – “Blame It on the Rain” (Netflix)
Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X – “Protect Us” (National Geographic)
Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X – “Who We Are” (National Geographic)
Paris Barclay — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” (Netflix)
Rapman — Supacell – “Supacell” (Netflix) (WINNER)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
Black Men’s Summit (BET Media Group)
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)
Laura Coates Live (CNN)
NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
The ReidOut (MSNBC) (WINNER)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Alfonso Ribeiro — Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Keke Palmer — Password (NBC) (WINNER)
Nick Cannon — The Masked Singer (Fox)
Steve Harvey — Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
Taraji P. Henson — BET Awards 2024 (BET Media Group)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC) (WINNER)
Password (NBC)
Rhythm + Flow (Netflix)
The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo)
Tia Mowry: My Next Act (WeTV)
Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction /Documentary
In the Margins (PBS)
NCAA Basketball on CBS Sports (CBS)
Roots of Resistance (PBS)
SC Featured (ESPN)
The Prince of Death Row Records (YouTube TV) (WINNER)
Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps (American Masters and Firelight Media)
Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call (American Masters and Firelight Media)
How to Sue the Klan (WINNER)
Judging Juries
Silent Killer (Kaila Love Jones Films)
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
Chocolate with Sprinkles (AFI)
Definitely Not a Monster
If They Took Us Back
My Brother & Me (MeowBark Films)
Superman Doesn’t Steal (WINNER)
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
if(fy) (OTB/The Hidden Hand Studios)
Nate & John (Unity Animation Project, LLC)
Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” (Exhibit Treal Studios) (WINNER)
Self (Pixar Animation Studios)
Walk in the Light (419 Studios)
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