The cast of The Great Debaters: Denzel Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Kimberly Elise and Denzel Washington, together won four awards out of eight nominations at NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES – The 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards show was appropriately held at the Shrine Auditorium, because the star-studded gala, always broadcast during Black History Month, became a metaphorical shrine to the living legends that broke barriers and set new standards. The universally beloved actress, activist and humanitarian Ruby Dee, who recently received her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the Denzel Washington blockbuster American Gangster, received the NAACP Chairman’s Award. Twenty-five time Grammy-winner Stevie Wonder was inducted into the 99-year-old organization’s Hall of Fame during the live telecast. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, a 17-time Grammy winner, was crowned with the civil rights group’s Vanguard Award because her work “increases understanding and awareness of racial and social issues.” And that was just for starters.

Two-time Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, movie magnate Tyler Perry, and Grammy-winner Alicia Keys each took home four awards. Washington and cast received four awards for the critically acclaimed history drama The Great Debaters, Perry nabbed four for the TBS series “House of Payne,” and Keys won four for her album, single, video and female artistry. Janet Jackson won supporting actress for her role in Why Did I Get Married? while “Ugly Betty” star Vanessa Williams won for supporting actress in a comedy series. Auto manufacturing giant General Motors hosted the NAACP Afterglow at the swank Beverly Hilton Hotel in nearby Beverly Hills. –terry shropshire

Daytime TV legend Victoria Rowell celebrates her trophy for her debut novel backstage at the Shrine Auditorium.	Janet Jackson won the best supporting actress award for her role in the Tyler Perry film Why Did I Get Married?
Tyler Perry and cast of TBS “House of Payne” took home four awards.	Hollywood icon and first-time Academy Award-nominee Ruby Dee took home the NAACP Chairman’s Award.
Sexy siren Eva Pigford, who was the first African American to win on “America’s Next Top Model,” poses at the GM-sponsored Afterglow after party at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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