Former Vice President Kamala Harris shall be honored with the Chairman’s Award on the NAACP Image Awards.
Harris will settle for the distinguished honor, in her first TV look since leaving workplace, in the course of the 56th Image Awards ceremony on Feb. 22, airing dwell from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
The Chairman’s Award honors people who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.” The Oakland-born Harris served as California Attorney General and U.S. Senator earlier than making historical past as the primary lady, Black American and South Asian American to function U.S. vp (with President Joe Biden). Then in 2024, Harris ran one other historic marketing campaign as the primary Black and South Asian lady to be nominated by a serious get together for president.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is more than a leader – she is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future. It is with great honor that we present her with the Chairman’s Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, celebrating her relentless dedication to justice, equality, and the betterment of our society,” stated Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “Her legacy is built on courage, compassion, and a profound commitment to uplifting those who need it most. Her tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable among us has made her a beacon of hope and progress.”
Past Chairman’s Award honorees embody Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.
Scott Mills, president and CEO of BET Media Group, stated Harris is deserving of the award for “both her historic accomplishments and her incredible legacy of service to America and our community” and described it as a “privilege” to honor her alongside the NAACP. “Her unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and progress has inspired millions, and her journey is a powerful testament to that which can be achieved through resilience, strength, and brilliance,” Mills concluded.
Added NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson: “Vice President Harris embodies the power, grace, and unyielding courage that Black women have long brought to the heart of the United States. With bold determination, Vice President Harris fights for justice, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, and stands as a beacon of hope. She embodies the resilience and brilliance of Black women, uplifting their legacy as the driving force behind change in this country. VP Harris reminds us all that when Black women lead, the entire nation rises.”
Other particular honorees at this 12 months’s Image Awards embody trailblazing comic Dave Chappelle, who shall be awarded NAACP President’s Award, whereas the Wayans household — specifically Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. — shall be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
This 12 months, the printed shall be prolonged by half-hour to 2 and a half hours, with the ceremony additionally used to drive assist for the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the latest wildfires. BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and WME partnered with L.A. County and collaborated with local people organizations, together with Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which is geared toward defending owners from displacement and preserving the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.