Entertainment News

Ava DuVernay, 'black-ish,' win big at NAACP Image Awards

By Ray Downs   |   Updated Jan. 16, 2018 at 6:01 AM
Ava DuVernay arrives for the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Tracee Ellis Ross appears backstage with the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series award for "black-ish" during the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Danny Glover appears backstage with the NAACP President's Award during the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Naturi Naughton appears backstage with Outstanding Drama Series award for "Power" during the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Omari Hardwick appears backstage with the Outstanding Drama Series award for "Power" during the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Charlie Wilson appears backstage with the Music Makes a Difference Honor award during the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI Tina Lifford arrives for the 49th NAACP Image Awards on Monday. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI

Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The 49th annual NAACP Image Awards took place at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. Monday night with director Ava DuVernay taking home the Entertainer of the Year award.

DuVernay, who created 2017's hit TV show Queen Sugar, was the only non-performer to be nominated for the coveted award, which included big names like Jay-Z, Issa Rae, Chance the Rapper, Chadwick Boseman and Bruno Mars.

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"I'm a director! I shouldn't be up here!" DuVernay said after accepting the award.

Other big winners include the cast of blackish. Not only were stars Anthony Anderson and Tracy Ellis Ross the hosts for the night, but they also took home the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Comedy Series. The show also won for Outstanding Comedy Series.

In somewhat of an upset, Girls Trip beat Get Out for Outstanding Motion Picture.

But Daniel Kaluuya was given the Best Actor award for his starring role in Get Out.

Octavia Spencer got the Best Actress in a motion picture nod for her role in Gifted.

Danny Glover accepted the President's Award Monday night for his decades of activism and work in film and television.

During his speech, Glover said he wanted to bring particular attention to workers' rights.

"Labor rights are civil rights," he said.