NAACP
By James Neusom
On Monday I attended a lively
and spirited NAACP symposium, "Artists &
Activism." As part of the Image Awards week, the Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences hosted a power-packed panel of actors, industry executives,
scholars and historians to discuss the cultural impact of celebrity and
entertainment, on the image of Blacks in the World. The panel included Debra
Lee, Chairman & CEO of BET, Hill Harper of CSI, Judge Greg Mathis, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Ed Gordon the
moderator had his hands full trying maintain congeniality, as Hill Harper and Judge Mathis expounded on their views
of social responsibility vs. monetary gain.
This
year, over 1,200 entries were received. From those entries, a special committee
of 300 industry professionals and NAACP leaders
from across the country selected five nominees in each of 44 categories. Any
artist, manager, publicist, production company, record label, studio, network
or publishing house could submit an entry to the NAACP Image Awards. The final
selections are voted on by NAACP members, and winners will be announced during
the live airing of the 39th NAACP Image Awards. (To see a full list of
Image Award nominees go to http://www.naacpima geawards.
net/PDFs/ NOMINEES_ FOR_39TH_ NAACP_IMAGE_ AWARDS_ANNOUNCED .pdf)
I'll
be on the Red Carpet tonight but if you can't wait to see pictures, go to any
of my online community websites (such as ConnectingBlack,
BlackPlanet, or MySpace)
to view some great shots of Eva Pigford, Ed Gordon,
Jimmy Jean-Louis, and many more. Keep your inbox open for my full report
of the only completely Black owned and operated, non-commercial or industry
influenced, international, entertainment awards show.