Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The Kerry Washington-led The Six Triple Eight, actor Keke Palmer and the entire Wayans family were the big winners at Saturday's 56th annual NAACP Image Awards show held in Pasadena, Calif.
Washington took home the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for her role in the film about unsung female heroes in World War II.
The actor called on women to "remember your greatness." She said the women represented in the film "proved to us how extraordinary Black women are, how extraordinary Black women have always been."
The film also won Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, as well as two awards for cast member Ebony Obsidian -- Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Actor and TV personality Keke Palmer won the final award of the night, Entertainer of the Year.
"It's so important that we all come together and celebrate one another with one another," she said in her acceptance speech.
"I've been in this industry more than 20 years and nobody has uplifted me more than you in this room."
Palmer also won the award for Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety for hosting the game show Password.
The father-son duo of Damon Wayans Sr. and Damon Wayans Jr. won for their series Poppa's House.
"It's a beautiful thing and I'm deeply honored," the elder Wayans said in his acceptance speech for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. He added that "it's great to work with my cast," including his son, whom he playfully called "Junior."
Damon Wayans Jr.'s Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award was announced before the main ceremony began.
The two also were inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the larger Wayans family. Also included were Dwayne, Marlon, Shawn, Kim and Keenen Ivory Wayans, along with members of the next generation, including Damien and Chaunté.
Marlon Wayans also won Outstanding Guest Performance for his appearance in Bel-Air, which was announced before the ceremony.
Queen Latifah won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series award for her role in The Equalizer. She wasn't in attendance to accept the award, but the winner of the Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Michael Rainey Jr., was. He won for his role in Power Book II: Ghost.
Method Man also won an award -- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series -- for his role in the Starz series, announced before the main ceremony.
Quinta Brunson, also not in attendance, won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy series for Abbott Elementary. The series also won the Outstanding Comedy Series Award.
Martin Lawrence wasn't in attendance to accept the Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture award for his role in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Host Deon Cole opened the show with a nod to the recovery efforts from this year's Los Angeles-area wildfires. The award show was held in nearby Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The show brought onstage dozens of people from Altadena who lost their homes in the fires. Former Vice President Kamala Harris also made reference to the fires and other signs of climate change in her acceptance speech for the Chairman's Award, which is given to people who have dedicated their lives to promoting positive change.
She said the award was special to her because she was inspired by the NAACP to enter a life of public service, which included stents as California district attorney, a U.S. senator representing California and one term as vice president. Harris called for the American people to continue to use their power to organize, mobilize, educate and advocate for what they believe is right.
"Our power has never come from having an easy past. Our strength flows from our faith -- faith in God, faith in each other and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction," she said.
"And while we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office or the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, by us, the American people."
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson presented comedian and actor Dave Chappelle with the President's Award, which goes to an entertainer with distinguished public service. Chappelle thanked the NAACP for "chipping away at this monster of a machine" to allow for greater representation for Black entertainers in Hollywood.
"I won a lot of awards recently but this one tonight is probably the most special award I've ever gotten because it's from this institution that represents us, people of color," he said.
"Remember, community is everything ... don't ever be afraid to lean on each other," Chappelle added. "Let's keep it moving."
Awards handed out before the show was aired include:
-- Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture, Skylar Aleece Smith (The Piano Lesson)
-- Outstanding Animated Motion Picture, Inside Out 2
-- Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) Individual or Ensemble, Jennifer Hudson
-- Outstanding Talk Series, The Jennifer Hudson Show
-- Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie), Nature Naughton (Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie)
-- Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie), Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge)
-- Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie), Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
-- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts)
-- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Lynn Whitfield (The Chi)
-- Outstanding Drama Series, Cross
-- Outstanding Documentary (Television), Black Barbie: A Documentary
-- Outstanding Documentary (Motion Picture), Luther: Never Too Much
-- Outstanding Independent Motion Picture, Sing Sing
-- Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes (Nickel Boys)
-- Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, RaMell Ross (Nickel Boys)
-- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)
-- Outstanding Social Media Personality of the Year, Shirley Raines
-- Outstanding Children's Program (Gracie's Corner)
-- Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series), Leah Sava Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
-- Outstanding Animated Series, Gracie's Corner
-- Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television), Cree Summer (Rugrats)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction, Alyssa Cole (One of Us Knows: A Thriller)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Non-Fiction, Fawn Weaver (Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author, Sarai Johnson (Grown Women)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/Autobiography, Joy-Ann Reid (Medgar and Merle: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional, Tomesha Faxio (Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry, Kwame Alexander (This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Children, Taraji P. Henson and Paul Kellam (You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens, Samarra St. Hilaire (Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York)
-- Outstanding Literary Work - Graphic Novel, Bianca Xunise (Punk Rock Karaoke)
-- Outstanding Variety (Series or Special), Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was
-- Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, Crystal Jenkins (No Good Deed - Letters of Intent)
-- Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, Ben Watkins ("Hero Complex," Cross)
-- Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special, Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier and Thembi L. Banks (Young. Wild. Free)
-- Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
-- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie), Taraji P. Henson (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist)
-- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie), Samuel L. Jackson (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist)
-- Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special, Tina Mabry (The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat)
-- Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, Tiffany Johnson ("Trust No One," How to Die Alone)
-- Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Rapman ("Supacell," Supacell)
-- Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special), The Reidout
-- Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Services/Game Show, Celebrity Family Feud
-- Outstanding Short Form Series or Special - Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary, The Prince of Death Row Records
-- Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film), How to Sue the Klan
-- Outstanding Short Form (Live Action), Superman Doesn't Steal
-- Outstanding Short Form (Animated), "Jackie Robinson," Peanut Headz: Black History Toons
-- Outstanding New Artist, Doechii
-- Outstanding Male Artist, Chris Brown
-- Outstanding Female Artist, Beyoncé
-- Outstanding International Song, "Hmmm" (Chris Brown featuring Davido)
-- Outstanding Jazz Album, Portrait (Samara Joy)
-- Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song, "Working For Me" (Tamela Mann)
-- Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional), Adam Blackstone & Fantasia ("Summertime")
-- Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary), Wizkid featuring Brent Faiyaz ("Piece of My Heart")
-- Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film, Star Wars: The Acolyte
-- Outstanding Song - Hip-Hop/Rap Song, "Not Like Us" (Kendrick Lamar)
-- Outstanding Album, Cowboy Carter (Beyoncé)
-- Outstanding Podcast - Limited Series/Short Form, Stranded
-- Outstanding Podcast - News and Information, Native Land Pod
-- Outstanding Podcast - Lifestyle/Self-Help, We Don't Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling
-- Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Motion Picture), Paul Tazewell (Wicked)
-- Outstanding Hair Styling (Television or Motion Picture), Lawrence Davis (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist)
-- Outstanding Make-up (Television or Motion Picture), Debi Young (Shirley)
-- Outstanding Stunt Ensemble, Keith Woulard and Nico Woulard (Rebel Ridge)
-- Outstanding International Motion Picture, Emilia Pérez
-- Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture), Blue Ivy Carter (Mufasa: The Lion King)
-- Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture), Dawn Porter (Luther: Never Too Much)
-- Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture, Jomo Fray (Nickel Boys)
-- Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture), Malcolm Washington (The Piano Lesson)
