LOS ANGELES -- The action police movie 'Lethal Weapon' won in three of four film categories Sunday night at the 20th annual Image Awards presented by the NAACP.
The movie was named best motion picture and won best actor for Danny Glover and best supporting actress for Traci Wolfe. Mario Van Peebles was named best supporting actor for his role in the Clint Eastwood war movie 'Heartbreak Ridge.' There were no other nominations in movie categories.
Glover said backstage after winning the best actor honor that another best-picture nominee, 'Hollywood Shuffle,' accurately portrays the bias against blacks in the entertainment industry.
'I just hear it on another level, but much of the 'Hollywood Shuffle' is true,' Glover said. 'I fight this every day. Every time you see me identified, It's always 'black actor.'
'I think you find the big question is, why is it a black actor can't be in a movie without a white costar?' Glover said.
Lionel Richie was named entertainer of the year, while Aretha Franklin was named best female artist. Miki Howard was named best new artist; The Whispers, best vocal group; and Shirley Caesar and Al Green tied for best gospel performers.
The Image Awards are given for performances or concepts that portray a positive image of blacks. The awards program, which will be edited and televised at a later date, was held at the Wiltern Theater.
Hall of Fame awards were given to Linda Hopkins, Esther Rolle and the late Bob Marley.
J. Bruce Llewellyn, chairman of the board of Coca-Cola bottling company of Philadelphia, was given the corporate award. Curt Flood, the first major league baseball player to successfully challenge the reserve clause, was given the Jackie Robinson sports award.
Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald defied her doctor's orders and appeared to receive the president's award. The Rev. Leon Sullivan received the Roy Wilkins civil rights award, and the key of life award went to Dorothy Height, national president of the National Council of Negro Women.
Other winners included Luther Vandross for best male artist, Miles Davis for best jazz artist and Bobby Bland for best blues artist.
Special awards went to the Rev. Carl Bean, founder and executive director of the Minority AIDS Project; film producer Spike Lee; and Topper and Alyce Carew of Golden Groove Productions.
