As awards season begins, the NAACP is preparing to host its 56th annual Image Awards, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 E. Green St.). The televised ceremony will air LIVE on BET. The awards honor past, current and emerging Black stars in the entertainment industry.
Legendary actor Denzel Washington announced that his upcoming film will be his last as he prepares for retirement.
“Denzel is an icon. He is a legend, and certainly, he is a multi-time NAACP Image Award nominee and winner. We certainly cherish the work he’s done,” said Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “His characters are always so believable, and his impact in Hollywood aids in Black Hollywood legacy.”
Washington’s film career began in 1989 with his debut in “Glory,” for which he won his first Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as an American soldier.
Boykin-Towns also expressed her excitement for Washington’s sons, John David Washington and Malcolm Washington, as they continue excelling in their acting careers.
“His sons now taking up the mantle and earning nominations for ‘The Piano Lesson’ is really wonderful to see. I can’t imagine Denzel stepping away entirely, but he is certainly someone who is a permanent part of our history.”
John and Malcolm Washington received nominations in different categories for “The Piano Lesson,” while their father was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture for his role in “Gladiator 2.”
Another piece of Black history highlighted at the Image Awards is the film “Six Triple Eight,” starring Kerry Washington. The movie tells the story of the 6888th Postal Battalion, an all-Black women’s unit during World War II whose mission was to clear a backlog of 7 million letters from soldiers to their families.
During that time, Black men and women faced discrimination in the military, often assigned menial tasks or used as live test subjects. The Six Triple Eight marked the first time Black women were given a role of significance. Each shift handled an estimated 65,000 pieces of mail. In total, the unit processed mail for more than 4 million military and civilian personnel, clearing backlogs in the United Kingdom and France. Their work was expected to take six months, but the battalion completed it in three.
In 2009, former First Lady Michelle Obama honored the unit at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The event was attended by three former unit members: Alyce Dixon, Mary Ragland, and Gladys Shuster Carter.
The film “Six Triple Eight” has been nominated in several categories, including outstanding motion picture and outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture. Kerry Washington is a nominee for outstanding actress in a motion picture and outstanding actress in a comedy series.
