Lucas to receive NAACP Vanguard Award

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Writer-director-producer George Lucas is to receive the Vanguard Award at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, organizers said Monday.

The event is to take place at the Shrine Auditorium Feb. 17 and will air on NBC.

Confirmed presenters for the ceremony include Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Vanessa Williams, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Archie Panjabi and Hill Harper.

Lenny Kravitz and Jill Scott are to perform during the 2-hour live special.

The Vanguard Award is presented to a person whose groundbreaking work increases understanding and awareness of racial and social issues, the organization said.

Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film franchises, most recently produced "Red Tails," a movie inspired by the heroic exploits of America's first all-black aerial combat unit.