-New Urban MEDIA- An Evening of Laughter and Celebration: Video Highlights from The 50th Annual NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)  to honor outstanding performances in film, television, music, and literature. Similar to other awards, like the Oscars and the Grammys, the over 40 categories of the Image Awards are voted on by the award organization's members. Honorary awards are also been included, such as the President's Award, the Chairman's Award, the Entertainer of the Year, and the Hall of Fame Award.

In an uplifting telecast celebrating the best and brightest of black American fine and creative artists,  the Losa Angeles filmed ceremony also highlights achievements from extended family members from communities of color in Latino and Asian communities, as well as contributions from artists of the pan African diaspora around the world.

One of the most talked about segments of the evening included commentary from comic Chris Rock on the Jussie Smollet hate crime scandal in Chicago, in which the EMPIRE star claimed racist attack latest determined to be a hoax, but with city prosecutor's office determining the actor was not guilty of orchestrating it.

Tonight's inspirational and humorous highlight reel includes appearances from Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-California), comedians Chris Rock & Omar Epps, actors Antony Anderson,  Tracee Ellis Ross, Omari Hardwick,  Viola Davis, Rutina Wesley (Queen Sugar), Tikka Sumpter (The Haves & Tha Have Nots), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Lupita Nyong'o; performers Jay Z & Ne-Yo  and an endless stream of entertainers too numerous to list. 

The NAACP maintains membership in the United States, its territories, Japan and Germany. To learn more about this historic organization, see naacp.org