How Watch the NAACP Image Awards 2024 For Free To Celebrate Black Excellence

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

The 55th NAACP Image Awards have finally arrived! The annual ceremony honors the year’s outstanding achievements in Black excellence across film, TV, music, literature, and beyond. You won’t want to miss this year’s show, so learn how to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards for free without cable.

The first NAACP Image Awards were presented on August 13, 1967, by activists Maggie Hathaway, Sammy Davis Jr., and Willis Edwards, leaders from the Beverly Hills-Hollywood NAACP branch of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization that continues to fight for civil rights and social justice. The NAACP Image Awards recognize the remarkable accomplishments and performances of people of color across film, TV and streaming, film, literature, podcasts, and more.

Not only will awards be handed out, but the NAACP will also honor remarkable individuals with special awards throughout the evening, before and after the event. Writer, poet, and activist Amanda Gorman will be presented with the Chairman’s Award, while Grammy-nominated R&B group New Edition will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. R&B singer-songwriter Frankie Beverly will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the NAACP Image Awards dinner on Thursday, March 14. June Ambrose, a pioneer in the fashion industry, will also accept the Vanguard Award at the Image Awards fashion show on March 15.

The 2024 NAACP Image Awards will broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Presenters for the night include dris Elba, Jeffrey Wright, Keke Palmer, Kerry Washington, Leslie Jones, Sterling K. Brown and Taraji P. Henson, while Andra Day is set to perform. Learn how to watch the ceremony, explore the list of nominees, and discover which stars have already won in the virtual events leading up to the main show.

When does the 2024 NAACP Awards air?

The 2024 NAACP Image Awards airs on Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET.

How to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards for free

The 2024 NAACP Awards airs on BET, which is available to stream live on services like DirecTV Stream, Philo, Fubo, and Sling. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $25 per month after the free trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Sling TV starts at $20 for your first month.

• Best Overall Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial
• Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Philo’s Free Trial
• Best Budget Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Sling TV
• Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Fubo‘s Free Trial

Best Overall Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first two months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $84.99 per month with the first two months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $159.99 per month.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for BET and start watching the 2024 NAACP Awards

Best Budget Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Philo’s Free Trial

Philo is our best budget pick to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards for its price and free trial length. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $25 per month after the trial ends. Along with BET, Philo also offers similar channels like BET Her. As for what else it includes, Philo offers more than 70 channels, as well as an unlimited DVR service. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards with Philo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Philo.com
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for BET and start watching the 2024 NAACP Awards

Best Budget Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Sling TV

Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards for its channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $40 per month; Sling Blue for $45 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $60 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $20 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $22.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $30 for your first month. All three plans include BET.

As for the differences between the plans, Sling Orange, which is most suited toward sports and family channels, includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time. Sling Orange, which is most suited toward news and entertainment channels, includes 42 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Sling Orange + Blue includes all the channels offered on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, as well as the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards with Sling TV.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Select your plan
5. Enter your payment information and check out
6. Search for BET and start watching the the 2024 NAACP Awards

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the 2024 NAACP Awards: Fubo’s Free Trial

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers two plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; and Elite, which costs $89.99 per month. BET is available on both plans. Fubo also has a current deal, where users can sign up for $20 off their first month.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the 2024 NAACP Awards with Fubo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for BET and start watching the the 2024 NAACP Awards

Who is the 2024 NAACP Awards host?

Who is the 2024 NAACP Awards host? Queen Latifah will return to host the 2024 ceremony after emceeing the awards for the first time last year. Latifah is a four-time NAACP Image Award recipient and has earned more than 20 NAACP Image Award nominations throughout her expansive career.

For the third year in a row, she was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Robyn McCall in the CBS series The Equalizer. She’s also an executive producer on the hit primetime show, which also stars Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes, and Lorraine Toussaint.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with groundbreaking megastar Queen Latifah and are elated to welcome her again as this year’s host,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, in a statement per Variety. “Queen Latifah, NAACP and Pastis have been such incredible partners in amplifying Black culture, excellence, creativity, and ingenuity, and this year’s unforgettable show will be no different.”

Last year, Latifah opened the 2023 NAACP Image Awards with the musical number “I’m Gonna Live Til I Die.” The singer and actress stunned in a black-and-white gown and showed off her impressive vocal skills while also performing a monologue about the “drive, determination and success” of the “beautiful Black queens and kings” in the room.

“It’s an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year we are celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop,” Latifah said in a statement last year about hosting the 2023 awards. “This is a night to celebrate Black excellence and Black contribution to our industry and beyond. Celebrating one another, lifting each other up and you know we’ll have fun doing it!”

Who are the 2024 NAACP Awards nominees?

Who are the 2024 NAACP Awards nominees? Rustin and The Color Purple actor Colman Domingo led this year’s NAACP Image Award nominations with three in the motion picture categories, including a nod for Entertainer of the Year. In TV, Ayo Edebiri earned two NAACP nominations, including a supporting role nod for The Bear and another for her guest appearance on Abbott Elementary. In music, Victoria Monét and Usher had the most nominations, with six and five nods, respectively. 

The 55th annual NAACP Image Awards officially began with a virtual ceremony on Monday, March 11, with night one focusing on music and literary categories. Victoria Monét and Chris Brown were each double winners; Usher, H.E.R., Megan Thee Stallion, Kirk Franklin, and Tems also won across 13 music categories.

The NAACP will hand out awards in non-televised categories virtually until Wednesday, March 13, on naacpimageawards.net. There will also be an awards dinner and program on March 14 and a fashion show on March 15. Check out the full list of NAACP Award nominees below.

Entertainer of the Year Nominees

• Colman Domingo
• Fantasia Barrino
• Halle Bailey
• Keke Palmer
• Usher

Motion Picture Categories

Outstanding Motion Picture 

• American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
• Origin (NEON)
• Rustin (Netflix)
• The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture 

• Colman Domingo – “Rustin” (Netflix)
• Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer 3” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Jamie Foxx – “The Burial” (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Jeffrey Wright – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
• John Boyega – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 

• Aunjanue Ellis–Taylor – “Origin” (NEON)
• Fantasia Barrino – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Halle Bailey  – “The Little Mermaid” (Walt Disney Pictures)
• Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
• Yara Shahidi – “Sitting in Bars with Cake” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 

• Colman Domingo – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Corey Hawkins – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Glynn Turman – “Rustin” (Netflix)
• Jamie Foxx – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
• Sterling K. Brown – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 

• Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
• Erika Alexander – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
• Halle Bailey – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Taraji P. Henson – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture 

• Back on the Strip (GVN Releasing LLC)
• Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
• Story Ave (Kino Lorber)
• Sweetwater (Briarcliff Entertainment/Universal)
• The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (RLJE Films)

Outstanding International Motion Picture 

• Anatomy of a Fall (NEON)
• Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
• Mami Wata (Dekanalog)
• Rye Lane (Searchlight Pictures)
• Society of the Snow (Netflix)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture 

• Aaron Pierre – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
• Laya DeLeon Hayes – “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” (RLJE Films)
• Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture 

• American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
• Rustin (Netflix)
• The Blackening (Lionsgate and MRC)
• The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture 

• Elemental (Pixar Animation Studios)
• Trolls Band Together (Dreamworks Animation)
• Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures)
• Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture 

• Ariana DeBose – Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
• Brian Tyree Henry – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Daniel Kaluuya – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Issa Rae – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Shameik Moore – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action) 

• Flower (Life in Motion/Funbomb)
• Gaps (Tribeca Studios)
• Lucille (QTGEEK)
• Rocky Road on Channel Three (Indeed)
• The After (Netflix)

Outstanding Short–Form (Animated) 

• Blueberry (Ace Animation Studios)
• Bridges (OHR Media)
• Burning Rubber (Reel Black Studios)
• Ego’ Curse (Exhibit Treal Studios)
• Lil’ Ruby (Platige)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) 

• A.V. Rockwell – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
• Blitz Bazawule – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Choice Skinner – “A New Life” (Buffalo 8)
• Dewayne Perkins – “The Blackening” (Lionsgate and MRC)
• Juel Taylor – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture

• Aaron Kingsley Adetola – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
• Aven Courtnery – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
• Calah Lane – “Wonka” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Lennox Simms – “Origin” (NEON)
• Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film

• C. Kim Miles, Julia Liu, Clair Popkin – “STILL:  A Michael J. Fox Movie” (Apple Original Films)
• Eric K. Yue – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
• Guy Godfree – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
• Ken Seng – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
• Paul Yee – “Joy Ride” (Lionsgate)

Television and Streaming Categories

Outstanding Comedy Series 

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)
• Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
• The Neighborhood (CBS)
• UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series 

• Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
• Delroy Lindo – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
• Dulé Hill – ” The Wonder Years” (ABC)
• Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
• Tone Bell – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 

• Kerry Washington – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
• Meagan Good – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
• Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
• Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

• Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
• Roy Wood Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
• Tyler Lepley – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
• Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

• Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX)
• Ego Nwodim – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
• Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Sheryl Lee Ralph – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Shoniqua Shandai – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Drama Series 

• Bel–Air (Peacock)
• Black Cake (Hulu)
• Found (NBC)
• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)
• Snowfall (FX)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 

• Damson Idris – “Snowfall” (FX)
• Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
• Idris Elba – “Hijack” (Apple TV+)
• Jabari Banks – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
• Jesse L. Martin – “The Irrational” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 

• Angela Bassett – “9–1–1” (FOX)
• India Ria Amarteifio – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
• Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)
• Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)
• Zoe Saldaña – “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 

• Adrian Holmes – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
• Amin Joseph – “Snowfall” (FX)
• Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
• LaRoyce Hawkins – “Chicago PD” (NBC)
• Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 

• Adjoa Andoh – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
• Arsema Thomas – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
• Golda Rosheuvel – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
• Gail Bean – “Snowfall” (FX)
• Nicole Beharie – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Black Girl Missing (Lifetime)
• First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)
• Heist 88 (Showtime)
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
• Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Brian Tyree Henry – “Class of “09” (FX)
• Courtney B. Vance – “Heist 88” (Showtime)
• Keith Powers – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
• Lance Reddick – “The Caine Mutiny Court–Martial” (Showtime)
• Samuel L. Jackson – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Ali Wong – “Beef” (Netflix)
• Chlöe Bailey – “Praise This” (Peacock)
• Dominique Fishback – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
• Gabrielle Union – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
• Meagan Good – “Buying Back My Daughter” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Carl Anthony Payne II – “Binged to Death” (MTV)
• Damon Wayans – “Cinnamon” (Tubi)
• Damson Idris – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
• Don Cheadle – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)
• Jharrel Jerome – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special 

• Aja Naomi King – “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)
• CCH Pounder – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)
• Michaela Jaé Rodriguez – “American Horror Story: Delicate” (FX)
• Phylicia Rashad – “Heaven Down Here” (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
• Tisha Campbell – “Every Breath She Takes” (Lifetime)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) 

• 20/20 – Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
• The 1619 Project (Hulu)
• theGrio with Marc Lamont Hill (theGrio Cable Network)
• The Reidout (MSNBC)
• Into America (MSNBC)

Outstanding Talk Series 

• Hart to Heart (Peacock)
• Sherri (Syndicated)
• Tamron Hall (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
• The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
• Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts (Disney+)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series) 

• America’s Got Talent (NBC)
• Barbecue Showdown (Netflix)
• Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
• Critter Fixers: Country Vets (Nat Geo WILD)
• Wild ‘N Out (VH1)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) 

• A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
• A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip–Hop (CBS)
• Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (Netflix)
• My Name is Mo’Nique (Netflix)
• Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer (Netflix)

Outstanding Children’s Program 

• Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix)
• Alma’s Way (PBS Kids)
• Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
• Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
• My Dad The Bounty Hunter (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)

• Alaya High – “That Girl Lay Lay” (Nickelodeon)
• Elisha “EJ” Williams – “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
• Jalyn Hall – “The Crossover” (Disney+)
• Keivonn Woodard – “The Last of Us” (HBO | Max)
• Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

•  Bomani Jones – “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO | Max)
• Joy Reid – “The Reidout” (NBC)
• Sherri Shepherd – “Sherri” (Syndicated)
• Tamron Hall – “Tamron Hall” (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
• Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Alyssa Farah Griffin – “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble 

• Anthony Anderson, Cedric The Entertainer – ” Kings of BBQ” (A&E)
• DC Young Fly – “Celebrity Squares” (VH1)
• Nick Cannon – “The Masked Singer” (FOX)
• RuPaul Charles – “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
• Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance 

• Ayo Edebiri – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Garcelle Beauvais – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
• Giancarlo Esposito – “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
• Michael B. Jordan – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
• Roy Wood, Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Animated Series 

• Big Mouth (Netflix)
• Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
• Marvel’s Spidey & His Amazing Friends (Disney Junior)
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Channel)
• Young Love (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Television) 

• Cree Summer – “Rugrats” (Paramount+)
• Issa Rae – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)
• Keke Palmer – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
• Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
• Scott Mescudi – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series

• Jessica Mikayla – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)
• Kevin Hart – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
• Leslie Jones – After the Cut–The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• Nathalie Emmanuel – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
• Seth Carr – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama 

• After the Cut (Comedy Central)
• Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
• Disney Launchpad Season two (Disney+)
• Doggyland (YouTube)
• I Am Groot (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction 

• Did You Know? (theGrio Cable Network)
• I Was A Soul Train Dancer (BET)
• Mama Mann’s Kitchen (YouTube TV)
• Ritual (PBS)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) 

• Adjani Salmon – “Dreaming Whilst Black” (Showtime)
• Kale Futterman – “Ginny & Georgia” (Netflix)
• Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
• Thara Popoola – “Sex Education” (Netflix)
• Troy Hunter – “Sex Education” (Netflix)

Recording Categories

Outstanding New Artist 

• FLO (Uptown Records / Republic Records)
• Jordan Ward (Artium/Interscope Records)
• Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
• October London (Death Row Records)
• Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Male Artist 

• Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
• Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
• Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
• Jon Batiste (Verve Records)
• Usher (Mega/Gamma)

Outstanding Female Artist 

• Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
• H.E.R. (RCA Records)
• Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)
• Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
• Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album 

• “All Yours” – Kierra Sheard (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
• “Father’s Day” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
• “Impossible” – Pastor Mike, Jr. (Rock City/Black Smoke)
• “My Truth” – Jonathan McReynolds (MNRK Music Group)
• “The Maverick Way Complete” – Maverick City Music (Insignia & TRIBL Records)

Outstanding International Song 

• “Amapiano” – Asake feat. Olamide (YBNL Nation / EMPIRE)
• “City Boys” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
• “Me & U” – Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
• “People” – Libianca feat. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK/5K Records)
• “Unavailable” – Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album 

• “Boyfriend” – Usher  (Mega/Gamma)
• “Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Hot Girl Productions)
• “How We Roll” – Ciara (Beauty Marks Entertainment)
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
• “Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Album 

• “Clear 2: Soft Life” – Summer Walker (LVRN/Interscope Records)
• “For All The Dogs” – Drake (OVO/Republic Records)
• “I Told Them…” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
• “Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
• “The Age of Pleasure” – Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album 

• “Creed III: The Soundtrack” – Michael B. Jordan, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, Frank Brim (Dreamville / Interscope Records)
• “Godfather of Harlem: Season 3 (Original Series Soundtrack)” – Swizz Beatz & Avery Chambliss (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
• ” Metro Boomin Presents Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture/Deluxe Edition)” – Metro Boomin (Republic Records)
• “The Color Purple–Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Producers (WaterTower Music/Gamma)
• “The Little Mermaid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Alan Menken, Mike Higham and Lin–Manuel Miranda (Walt Disney Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song 

• “All Things” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
• “All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
• “In The Room” – Maverick City Music (TRIBL Records)
• “It’s Working” – Todd Dulaney (DulaneyLand / MNRK)
• “JOY (Unspeakable) –  Voices of Fire feat. Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

• “Brand New Life” – Brandee Younger (Impulse! Records)
• “Melusine ” – Cécile McLorin Salvant (Nonesuch Records)
• “Who Are You When No One is Watching?” – Braxton Cook (Nettwerk Music Group)
• “Phoenix” – Lakecia Benjamin (Whirlwind Recordings)
• “Truth Be Told” – Angie Wells (Cafe Pacific Records)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song 

• “Back To Your Place” – October London
• “Good Good” – Usher feat. 21 Savage x Summer Walker
• “ICU Remix” – Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Lipstick Lover” – Janelle Monáe

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song 

• “All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (Alamo Records)
• “Blue Eyes” – Vic Mensa (Roc Nation Records, LLC)
• “Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Atlantic/Warner Bros/Mattel and 10K Projects/Capitol Records)
• “Palisades, CA” – Larry June & The Alchemist (The Freeminded Records/ALC/EMPIRE)
• “Sittin’ On Top of the World” – Burna Boy & 21 Savage (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) 

• Ciara feat. Chris Brown – “How We Roll” (Beauty Marks Entertainment
• Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake – “ICU Remix” (Def Jam Recordings)
• Dreamville, Bas & Black Sherif feat. Kel–P – “Creed III: Soundtrack” (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
• Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard – “God Is Good” (Timeless Music Group/Roc Nation Records, LLC)
• Voices of Fire – “Joy (Unspeakable)” (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) 

• Burna Boy & 21 Savage – “Sittin’ On Top of the World” (Atlantic Records)
• Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
• Lil Durk & J. Cole – “All My Life” (Alamo Records)
• Usher, 21 Savage, Summer Walker – “Good Good” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
• Victoria Monét feat. Lucky Day – “Smoke” (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film

• “American Fiction” – Laura Karpman (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
• “Rustin” – Branford Marsalis (Netflix)
• “The Color Purple” – Kris Bowers (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• “The Other Black Girl” – EmmoLei Sankofa (Hulu)
• “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” – Jongnic Bontemps (Paramount+)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES 

Outstanding Documentary (Film) 

• American Symphony (Netflix)
• Fast Dreams (99 Ways Entertainment)
• Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
• Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
• Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary (Television) 

• American Experience (PBS)
• Dear Mama (FX)
• High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)
• Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (Netflix)
• Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip–Hop (Netflix)

Outstanding Short Form Documentary

• Alive in Bronze: Huey P. Newton (MTV Documentary Films)
• Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney (MTV Documentary Films)
• Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games (ESPN)
• Freshwater (Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% FILMS)
• Ifine: Beauty (Dirt–Stained Roses)

WRITING CATEGORIES 

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series 

• Ava Coleman – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• Donald Glover, Janine Nabers – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
• Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
• Norman Vance, Jr. – Saturdays (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series 

• Carla Banks–Waddles – Bel–Air (Peacock)
• Lee Sung Jin – BEEF (Netflix)
• Marissa Jo Cerar – Black Cake (Hulu)
• Nkechi Okoro Carroll – Found (NBC)
• Shonda Rhimes – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special 

• Dwayne Johnson–Cochran – Heist 88 (Showtime)
• Frank E. Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
• Marlon Wayans – Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me (HBO | Max)
• Sam Jay – Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (HBO | Max)
• Tina Gordon, Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage, Camilla Blackett – Praise This (Peacock)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

• A.V. Rockwell – A Thousand and One (Focus Features)
• Cord Jefferson – American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
• Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
• Maggie Betts, Doug Wright – The Burial (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Marcus Gardley – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Directing Categories

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series 

• Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
• Donald Glover – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
• Neema Barnette – Grand Crew (NBC)
• Numa Perrier – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)
• Robbie Countryman – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series 

• Alonso Alvarez–Barreda – Snowfall (FX)
• Amin Joseph – Snowfall (FX)
• Carl Seaton – Godfather of Harlem (MGM+)
• Dawn Wilkinson – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
• Geary McLeod – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special 

• Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. – Cinnamon (Tubi)
• Chris Robinson – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
• Keke Palmer – Big Boss (YouTube TV)
• Numa Perrier – The Perfect Find (Netflix)
• Vivica A. Fox – First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture 

• Antoine Fuqua – The Equalizer 3 (Sony Pictures)
• Ava DuVernay – Origin (NEON)
• George C. Wolfe – Rustin (Netflix)
• Juel Taylor – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
• Michael B. Jordan – Creed III (Amazon / MGM Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) 

• Allen Hughes – Dear Mama (FX)
• Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng – Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
• Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner – Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (CNN)
• Lisa Cortés – Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
• Roger Ross Williams – Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

Literary Categories

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction 

• “Everything Is Not Enough” – Lola Akinmade Åkerström (William Morrow)
• “Family Lore” – Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperCollins Publisher)
• “House of Eve” – Sadeqa Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
• “Let Us Descend” – Jesmyn Ward (Scribner)
• “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” – James McBride (Penguin Random House, Riverhead Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction 

• “Black AF History: The Un–Whitewashed Story of America” – Michael Harriot (HarperCollins Publisher)
• “BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art” – Zaria Ware (HarperCollins Publisher)
• “Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers ” – Black Interior Designers and June Reese (Abrams Books)
• “The Art of Ruth E. Carter” – Ruth E. Carter Foreword by Dani Gurira (Chronicle Books)
• “The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families” – Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author 

• “And Then He Sang a Lullaby” – Ani Kayode Somtochukwu (Grove Atlantic)
• “Coleman Hill: A Novel” – Kim Coleman Foote (Zando / SJP Lit)
• “Rootless” – Krystle Zara Appiah (Ballantine Books)
• “The Black Joy Project – Kleaver Cruz (Mariner Books)
• “The God of Good Looks” – Breanne McIvor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography 

• “Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts” – Maya Moore Irons (Andscape Books)
• “Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds” – Rich Paul (Penguin Random House)
• “Nothing Is Missing” – Nicole Walters (Simon & Schuster)
• “Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford (Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins)
• “Straight Shooter:  A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes” – Stephen A. Smith (Gallery Books/13A)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional 

• “Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right” – John Lewis (Avery)
• “Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments” – Jocelyn Delk Adams, Olga Massov (Clarkson Potter)
• “Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home” – Kristen Griffith–VanderYacht (Clarkson Potter)
• “Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon” Be There?”” – Jarett Hill, Tre’vell Anderson (Ten Speed Press)
• “Livable Luxe” – Brigette Romanek (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry 

• “Above Ground” – Clint Smith (Little, Brown)
• “So to Speak”  – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books)
• “suddenly we” – Evie Shockley (Wesleyan University Press)
• “The Ferguson Report: An Erasure” – Nicole Sealey (Alfred A. Knopf)
• “Why Fathers Cry at Night” – Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children 

• “CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” – Kahran Bethencourt (St. Martin’s Press)
• “How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee” – Carole Boston Weathorford, Frank Morrison (Candlewick Press)
• “I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots” – Lid’ya C. Rivera, Nina Mata (HarperCollins)
• “Is This Love?” – Cedella Marley, Alea Marley (Chronicle Books)
• “Like Lava In My Veins” – Derrick Barnes, Shawn Martinbrough (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens 

• “Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans” – Isi Hendrix (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
• “Eb & Flow” – Kelly J. Baptist (Crown Books for Young Readers)
• “Everyone’s Thinking It” – Aleema Omotoni (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
• “Fatima Tate Takes the Cake” – Khadijah VanBrakle (Holiday House)
• “Friday I’m in Love” – Camryn Garrett (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Outstanding Graphic Novel

• “Curlfriends: New in Town” – Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
• “Ms Davis: A Graphic Biography” – Sybille Titeux de la Croix, Amazing Améziane (Fantagraphics)
• “Queenie: Godmother of Harlem” – Aurelie Levy, Elizabeth Colomba (Abrams Books)
• “Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America” – Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Joel Christian Gill (Ten Speed Graphic)
• “The Talk” – Darrin Bell (Henry Holt & Company)

Podcast Categories

Outstanding News and Information Podcast 

• #SundayCivics (LJW Community Strategies)
• Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn–Grant (PBS Nature)
• Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams (Uppity Productions)
• Into America with Trymaine Lee (MSNBC)
• The Assignment with Audie Cornish (CNN Audio)

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self–Help Podcast 

• Black Money Tree (Texas Black Expo Inc)
• Chile, Please (HONEY CHILE Entertainment)
• Is This Going To Cause An Argument (Seven14Seven Media)
• The Laverne Cox Show (Shondaland Audio + iHeartMedia)
• The Light (Audible)

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast 

• Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (The Ringer)
• Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast (iHeart Media)
• More Than That with Gia Peppers (Dentsu)
• The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean (The Black Effect Podcast Network)
• The Bakari Sellers Podcast (The Ringer)

Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast 

• All the Smoke (Paramount)
• Baby, This is Keke Palmer (Wondery)
• Being Black: The 80s (TheGrio)
• Here’s The Thing (Family Affair Media and Entertainment)
• Nightcap with Unc and Ocho (The Volume)

Outstanding Scripted Series Podcast

• Crimson Hearts Collide (Hallmark Media and AYR Media)
• Small Victories (WGC Productions)
• TwentyOne 21: A Black AF Scripted Audio Comedy (TwentyOne 21 Podcast)
• Whose Amazing Life? (Wondery)
• Yes We Cannabis (Audible)

Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form

• I Am Story (AFSCME)
• Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast (Hip Hop Caucus)
• Reclaimed: the Forgotten League (ABC Audio)
• The Greatest Day: The Epic Story Behind Hip–Hop’s Most Iconic Photograph (Audible)
• Wakanda Forever: The Official black Panther Podcast (Proximity Media and Marvel Entertainment)

COSTUME DESIGN, MAKE–UP & HAIRSTYLING CATEGORIES 

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) 

• Charlese Antoinette Jones – Air (Amazon/MGM Studios)
• Dierdra Elizabeth Govan – I’m A Virgo (Amazon/MGM Studios)
• Toni–Leslie James, Josh Quinn – Rustin (Netflix)
• Francine Jamison–Tanchuck – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Make–up (Television or Film) 

• Cole Patterson, Fabiola Mercado – Bel–Air (Peacock)
• Miho Suzuki – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
• Beverly Jo Pryor, Eric Pagdin, Quintessence Patterson – Rustin (Netflix)
• Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila, Milene Melendez – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Denise Pugh–Ruiz – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) 

• Shavonne Brown – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
• Carla Joi Farmer – Air (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Elizabeth Robinson – Creed III (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Melissa “Missy” Forney, Sterfon Demings – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
• Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson, Jorge Benitez Villalobos – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Stunt Category

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)

• Creed III (Amazon/MGM Studios)
• The Continental: From the World of John Wick (Peacock)
• They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
• Titans (The CW)
• Warrior (HBO| Max)

Outstanding Social Media Personality of the Year Nominees

• Angel Laketa Moore
• Druski
• Keith Lee
• Lynae Vanee
• Terrell Grice