40th Annual NAACP Image Awards

For those that are needing another Awards show fix until the Oscar Awards, there is hope. The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards show is just over 24 hours away. Rejoice.

Actually this awards show should be interesting for more than the fact that it highlights the achievements of people of color, something rarely done by the Academy Awards. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. Thus I expect the television broadcast to be quite special.

There will be stars a plenty as well. Halle Berry and Tyler Perry will be presenting. Which says nothing of those celebrities in attendance. All of whom I expect to note the significance of what the NAACP has done over the years.

A special honoree will be Muhammad Ali. He is a man well deserving of recognition and I am happy to know he will be singled out for praise. He is one of the major catalysts in some of the changes that have occurred in sports, television, and international perceptions of African Americans. More should credit what he has done and achieved.

Another honoree will be Russell Simmons. He has been highly influential beyond just music. He has been a great role model of how successful any African American businessperson can be. His empire of clothing, music, finance, televison and film ventures is the match of most any business. Such is the power of a mind dedicated in its purpose.

But on the pure awards front here are a few of the categories and my thoughts.

Outstanding Picture:
"Cadillac Records"
"Miracle at St. Anna"
"The Secret Life of Bees"
"Seven Pounds" – I expect this to win
"Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys"

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Derek Luke – "Miracle at St. Anna"
Don Cheadle – "Traitor" - This is my pick
Jeffrey Wright – "Cadillac Records"
Rob Brown – "The Express"
Will Smith – "Seven Pounds" - The main competition

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Alfre Woodard – "Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys"
Angela Bassett – "Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns" - Probable winner
Dakota Fanning – "The Secret Life of Bees" - main competition
Queen Latifah – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Rosario Dawson – "Seven Pounds"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Cedric the Entertainer – "Cadillac Records"
Columbus Short – "Cadillac Records"
Dev Patel – "Slumdog Millionaire" - Great choice for popularity with the Oscars
Mos Def – "Cadillac Records"
Nate Parker – "The Secret Life of Bees"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Alicia Keys – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Beyoncé Knowles – "Cadillac Records"
Jennifer Hudson – "The Secret Life of Bees" - The winner
Sophie Okonedo – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Taraji P. Henson – "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
"Ballast"
"Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom"
"Rachel Getting Married"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Visitor"

I am amazed that this category did not include A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy or Diary of a Tired Black Man. I would really have loved to see Diary win too. But such controversy is beyond the NAACP I suppose.

Outstanding Foreign Motion Picture
"Captain Abu Raed"
"The Class"
"Mongol" - Possible winner (but I have not seen it)
"Song of Sparrows"
"Under the Same Moon"

Outstanding Documentary
"The Black List"
"Black Magic"
"CNN Presents: Black in America"
"Dare Not Walk Alone"
"Trouble the Water"

I have no idea in this list, but I would guess it will be CNN. Mostly because of the very positive coverage of President Obama throughout the election.

I am not covering the television choices because I feel that there really is no choice available. There are virtually no lead actors, and too little diversity in television to really have a selection to choose from. That is not the fault of the NAACP, but Hollywood and its double standards. [Though I will say that Sean Combs should never win.]

So with that said, there is your next Awards fix.

Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac - gone too soon

The past few days have been very sad on so many fronts. There was the surprising car accident that put Morgan Freeman into the hospital with a broken arm and shoulder. Then the Olympics were marred with the murder of an American father-in-law of the Men’s Volleyball Team coach. And now there is the back to back news of the sudden deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

This is a difficult week for many, and I offer my condolences to the families of all that are suffering.

Bernie Mac was just a few months short of being 51. Born in the South side of Chicago, he raised himself up from early childhood tragedies of losing his mother and the absence of his father. Though he started his comedy career in his teens, it was not until he was 32 that his career flourished. The perseverance that allowed him to follow his dream took him through a difficult road – at one time leading him to work for UPS and as a furniture mover. Yet it was this aspect of everyday struggles that helped to shape his comedy and give him an appeal that was as wide as the nation.

While I may not been the greatest fan of Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (his given name) in his stand-up comedy, I was among the millions that enjoyed his acting in movies as diverse as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Get on the Bus, Life, Ocean's Eleven (and it’s2 sequels), What's the Worst That Could Happen?. Even more people were able to learn of his ability in his television show, The Bernie Mac Show, in which he received 2 Emmy nominations, 2 Golden Globe nominations, and 7 NAACP Image Award nominations (of which he won 4) all for best comedic actor.

This says nothing of the fact that Bernie Mac was a father. While his fame came towards the end of his life, he raised a daughter with his wife that graduated from college with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. That daugheter is married and made Bernie Mac a grandfather.

He was too young to leave us all.

Isaac Hayes was also a young robust 65. He first came to national attention in the 1960’s and has never been far from the ears of the nation, even if many had no idea it was him. He was a writer, singer, musician, composer and producer of multiple albums, leaving an indelible mark in music that still is reflected to this day. He received the first Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category for his soundtrack to the film SHAFT as well as 3 Grammy Awards. But that was not the only source of his fame.

From the 1970’s on Isaac Hayes could be seen on television and in movies. Some of his most notable mvoie characters included is possibly most famous – the Duke of New York from Escape From New York. But he was as comfortable in a comedy (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka) as in sci-fi (Johnny Mnemonic).

Of course his television roles were equally as diverse. He appeared on The Rockford Files, The A-Team and Miami Vice before he captured a role on one of the most popular television programs for the modern generation of kids South Park – where he voiced Chef.

But all of these accomplishments should be no surprise as Isaac Hayes was a man of diverse abilities. Like Bernie Mac, he lived through the death of his parents and being raised by his grandparents. He was poor in his youth, and picked cotton for a time. Yet he sang for his church since he was 5, and taught himself how to play 4 instruments - piano, electronic organ, flute and saxophone.

Isaac Hayes was also like Bernie Mac in that he too was a family man. Hayes had 12 children, and had 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Considering all of his accomplishments Hayes still found time for humanitarian work. He was involved with Youth for Human Rights International and One Campaign among others. In fact he was made an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district in 1992 for his humanitarianism.

All of this and the fact that Hayes had suffered from a stroke earlier in his life.

He too has gone from us too soone.

But I want to emphasize something about these public men, something that I am sure can be said of Todd Bachmann as well. They all gave of themselves and helped to improve the world we all live in. Their struggles and accomplishments are testament to the things we all can achieve in our lives.

From being poor, to losses in youth, to struggles in work we each can rise up and become the dreams we have, and help others to live out their dreams – or just live better lives.

I am sad today because of their losses, but I am also happy knowing that these men gave us all something that has enrichened our lives. Again I give my condolences to their families and friends.