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57th NAACP Image Awards: ‘Sinners’ Dominates With 18 Noms, ‘Bel-Air’ Leads Television Category

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The 2026 NAACP Image Awards have unveiled their nominations, celebrating standout achievements across film, television, music, and culture. This year’s contenders for Entertainer of the Year include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor, reflecting a diverse mix of artistic excellence and cultural impact.

Select category winners will be announced during a two-hour live broadcast on Saturday, February 28, 2026, airing from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The ceremony begins at 8 PM ET / 8 PM PT and will be shown on BET, with a simultaneous broadcast on CBS. The theme for this year’s celebration, “We See You,” highlights recognition, visibility, and empowerment within the Black community.

In the film categories, Sinners emerges as the clear frontrunner, earning an impressive 18 nominations, while Highest 2 Lowest follows with nine. On the television side, Bel-Air leads the pack with seven nominations. Close behind are Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz, each securing six nods, while Forever earns five. Among networks and streamers, Netflix stands out with a commanding total of 47 nominations, underscoring its strong presence this awards season.

Entertainer of the Year

  • Cynthia Erivo
  • Doechii
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Michael B. Jordan
  • Teyana Taylor

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Harlem (Prime Video)
  • Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
  • The Residence (Netflix)
  • The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
  • David Alan Grier – “St. Denis Medical” (NBC)
  • David Oyelowo – “Government Cheese” (Apple TV)
  • Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
  • Vince Staples – “The Vince Staples Show” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
  • Maya Rudolph – “Loot” (Apple TV)
  • Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
  • Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Uzo Aduba – “The Residence” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Colman Domingo – “The Four Seasons” (Netflix)
  • Giancarlo Esposito – “The Residence” (Netflix)
  • Josh Johnson – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
  • Wendell Pierce – “Elsbeth” (CBS)
  • William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Edwina Finley – “The Residence” (Netflix)
  • Ego Nwodim – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
  • Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Jerrie Johnson – “Harlem” (Prime Video)
  • Wanda Sykes – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Bel-Air (Peacock)
  • Beyond The Gates (CBS)
  • Forever (Netflix)
  • Paradise (Hulu)
  • Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

  • Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
  • Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Michael Cooper Jr. – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Morris Chestnut – “Watson” (CBS)
  • Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

  • Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi – “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
  • Lovie Simone – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Patina Miller – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (STARZ)
  • Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Ato Essandoh – “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
  • Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
  • Jacob Latimore – “The Chi” (Showtime)
  • Wood Harris – “Forever” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)
  • Audra McDonald – “The Gilded Age” (HBO Max)
  • Karen Pittman – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Karen Pittman – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
  • Nicole Beharie – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • G20 (Prime Video)
  • Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Ruth & Boaz (Netflix)
  • Straw (Netflix)
  • Washington Black (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Brian Tyree Henry – “Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
  • Giancarlo Esposito – “Please Don’t Feed The Children”( Tubi)
  • Idris Elba – “Heads of State” (Prime Video)
  • Taye Diggs – “Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers & Ours” (Lifetime)
  • Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Brandy Norwood – “Christmas Everyday” (Lifetime)
  • Dominique Thorne – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
  • Serayah – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)
  • Viola Davis – “G20” (Prime Video)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) 

  • CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
  • Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)
  • Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts (ABC)
  • Michelle Obama: The Style, The Power, The Look: A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
  • The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)

Outstanding Talk Series

  • House Guest (YouTube TV)
  • Sherri (Syndicated)
  • Tamron Hall Show (ABC)
  • The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
  • The View (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Services/Game Show

  • Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
  • Full Court Press (ESPN, ESPN+)
  • Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
  • Ready to Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

  • Tiny Desk Concerts Celebrates Black Music Month 2025 (NPR)
  • HBCU Honors (BET Networks)
  • BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
  • Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
  • Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Children’s Program

  • Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+)
  • Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
  • Reading Rainbow (KidZuko)

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

  • Amanda Christine – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
  • Blake Cameron James – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
  • Jeremiah Felder – The Residence (Netflix)
  • Leah Sava Jeffries – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
  • Percy Daggs IV – Paradise (Hulu)

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

  • Abby Phillip – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
  • Don Lemon – The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)
  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates. Jr. (PBS)
  • Scott Evans – House Guest (YouTube TV)
  • Sherri Shepherd – Sherri (Syndicated)

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

  • Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
  • Barbara Corcoran, Lorie Grenier, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, Kevin O’Leary – Shark Tank (ABC)
  • Bozoma St. John and Jimmy Fallon – On Brand with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
  • Kevin Hart – BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
  • Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance

  • Brandee Evans – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)
  • Dave Chappelle – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
  • Janet Hubert – Bel-Air (Peacock)
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner – Murder in a Small Town (FOX)
  • Morris Chestnut – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Animated Series

  • Disney Jr.’s Ariel (Disney Jr.)
  • Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
  • Lil Kev (BET+)
  • Weather Hunters (PBS KIDS)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

  • Anika Noni Rose – The Mighty Nein (Prime Video)
  • Ayo Edebiri – Big Mouth (Netflix)
  • Cedric the Entertainer – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
  • Graceyn Hollingsworth – Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary

  • College Gameday: Michael Vick (ESPN)
  • Glam Through The Ages (KeyTV Network)
  • Noochie’s Live From The Front Porch (YouTube TV)
  • The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show starring Kendrick Lamar (FOX)
  • The Daily Show: After The Cut (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

  • Chinaka Hodge – Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Daniel Lawrence Taylor – Boarders (Tubi)
  • Haolu Wang – Black Mirror (Netflix)
  • Jas Summers – Stay (Hulu)
  • Tearrance Averelle Chisolm – Demascus (Tubi)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)

  • Glynn Turman – Straw (Netflix)
  • Jay Ellis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
  • Rockmond Dunbar – Straw (Netflix)
  • Sterling K. Brown – Washington Black (Hulu)
  • Ving Rhames – Dope Thief (Apple TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Angela Bassett – Zero Day (Netflix)
  • Lyric Ross – Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Marsai Martin – G20 (Prime Video)
  • Sherri Shepherd – Straw (Netflix)
  • Teyana Taylor – Straw (Netflix)

Outstanding New Artist

  • Elmiene – Useless Without You (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Lee Vasi – Love Me To Life (Capitol CMG/Leeda Music Group)
  • Madison McFerrin – Scorpio (MadMcFerrin Music LLC)
  • Monaleo – Who Did the Body? (Columbia Records)
  • Ravyn Lenae – Bicycle Race (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

  • Bryson Tiller – Solace & The Vices (RCA Records/TrapSoul)
  • Chris Brown – It Depends feat. Byrson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • GIVĒON – Beloved (Epic Records)
  • Kendrick Lamar – luther (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
  • Leon Thomas – MUTT Deluxe: Heel (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

  • Alex Isley – Hands (Warner Records)
  • Cardi B – Am I the Drama? (Atlantic Records)
  • Doechii – Anxiety (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
  • Teyana Taylor – Escape Room (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Jazz Album

  • For Dinah – Ledisi (Candid Records)
  • We Insist! 2025 – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)
  • Beneath the Skin – Nnenna Freelon (Origin Records)
  • Live-Action – Nate Smith – Nate Smith (Naive)
  • Griot Songs – Omar Thomas Large Ensemble (Omar Thomas Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

  • Jekalyn X The Legends – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
  • Live at Maverick City – Maverick City Music (Tribl Records, LLC)
  • Only On The Road (Live) – Tye Tribbett (Freligious Music)
  • Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)
  • The Live Reunion: Washington D.C. – JJ Hairson and Youthful Praise (James Town Music)

Outstanding International Song

  • In Our Sight – Skip Marley (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Is It – Tyla (Epic Records)
  • Love – Burna Boy (Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records)
  • With You – Davido feat. Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
  • You4Me – Tiwa Savage (Everything Savage/EMPIRE)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

  • Anxiety – Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • Boots on the Ground – 803Fresh (Snake Eyez Music Group/APG)
  • Escape Room – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
  • luther – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Album

  • Am I The Drama? – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
  • Beloved – GIVĒON (Epic Records)
  • Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • Mutt Deluxe: Heel – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
  • SOS Deluxe: LANA – SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

  • Godfather of Harlem: Season 4 (Original Series Soundtrack) (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
  • Highest 2 Lowest (Original Soundtrack) (A24)
  • Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Season 3 (Music from the Series) (Walt Disney Records)
  • Wicked: For Good (The Soundtrack) (Republic Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

  • Church – Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat John Legend (Motown Gospel)
  • Constant – Live – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore, Anthony Gargiula (Tribl Records)
  • Do it Again – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)
  • Don’t Faint – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
  • Jesus I Do – Mariah Carey feat. The Clark Sisters (gamma.)

Outstanding Song – Soul/R&B

  • Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
  • Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist (Epic Records)
  • It Depends – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • Yes It Is – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
  • Bed of Roses – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap Song

  • Anxiety — Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • Chains & Whips – Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • ErrTime – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
  • Ride (Remix) – Chance the Rapper feat. Do or Die & Twista (CTR LLC)
  • Typa – GloRilla (CMG/Interscope Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

  • 803Fresh feat. Fantasia – Boots on the Ground Remix (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)
  • Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – For Good (Republic Records)
  • Mariah Carey, The Clark Sisters – Jesus I Do (gamma.)
  • Travis Greene & Andra Day – Let Freedom Ring (Greenelight Music/TRIBL Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) 

  • Cardi B, Kehlani – Safe (Atlantic Records)
  • Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – It Depends (Remix) (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • kwn feat. Kehlani – Worst Behavior (RCA Records)
  • FLO – The Mood (Remixes) (Uptown Records/Republic Records)
  • Leon Thomas & Chris Brown – MUTT (Remix) (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film

  • Boots (Madison Gate Records)
  • Eyes of Wakanda Original Soundtrack (Hollywood Records)
  • Marvel’s Ironheart: Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) (Hollywood Records)
  • One of Them Days (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Madison Gate Records, TriStar Productions)
  • Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

  • Can’t Get Enough – Kennedy Ryan (Forever/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group)
  • Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic – Harmonia Rosales (W. W. Norton & Company)
  • Death of the Author – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)
  • Happy Land – Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Berkley, Penguin Random House)
  • Harlem Rhapsody – Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley, Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction 

  • A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)
  • Born in Flames – Bench Ansfield (W. W. Norton & Company)
  • From These Roots – Tamara Lanier (Penguin Random House, Crown)
  • Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era – Calvin Stovall Jr. (Brown Books Publishing Group)
  • I Am Nobody’s Slave – Lee Hawkins (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

  • Anela Malik – American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
  • Charles B. Fancher – Red Clay (Blackstone Publishing)
  • Dr. Judith Joseph – High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (Little, Brown Spark)
  • Lorna Lewis – A Sky Full of Love (Lake Union)
  • Zoe B. Wallbrook – History Lessons (Soho Crime)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography

  • 107 Days – Kamala Harris (Simon & Schuster)
  • The Look – Michelle Obama (Crown)
  • Toni at Random – Dana A. Williams (Amistad, HarperCollins)
  • Truly – Lionel Richie (HarperOne)
  • Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three – Dawn Staley (Black Privilege Publishing (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster))

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

  • American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States – Anela Malik (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
  • Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine – Dr. Jessica Harris (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
  • We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives – Muhammad Abdul-Hadi (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
  • Who Better Than You? – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)
  • Wine Pairing for the People – Cha McCoy (Harvest, an imprint of WilliamMorrow, HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

  • Death of the First Idea – Rickey Laurentiis (Alfred A. Knopf)
  • Florida Water – Aja Monet (Haymarket Books)
  • The Grace of Black Mothers – Martheaus Perkins (Trio House Press)
  • The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems – Patricia Smith (Scribner)
  • We Look Better Alive – Ali Black (Burnside Review Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

  • Black Boy, Rise – Brynne Barnes (Chronicle Books)
  • Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball – Charles R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Press)
  • My Quiet Place – Monica Mikai (Chronicle Books )
  • The History of We – Nikkolas Smith (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

  • (S)Kin – Ibi Zoboi (HarperCollins/Versify)
  • Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi – Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)
  • The Scammer – Tiffany D. Jackson (HarperCollins – Quill Tree Books)
  • The Story of My Anger – Jasminne Mendez (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Through Our Teeth – Pamela N. Harris (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel 

  • Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel – Calista Bril (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls – Rob Edwards (Stranger Comics)
  • One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel – Rita William-Garcia (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books)
  • Parable of the Talents A Graphic Novel Adaptation – Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy, Illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame (Abrams ComicArts)
  • They Choose Violence – Sheldon Allen (AWA Studios)

Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism  

  • As Black New Yorkers Move Out, N.Y.C. Politics May Be Reshaped – Maya King (Newspaper)
  • Audra McDonald Took The Stage and Rewrote The Rules – Adam Davenport (Online)
  • Black joy and boots: How line dancing is fanning cultural connection – Lisa Respers France (News Service)
  • HBCUs Reel as Trump Cuts Black-Focused Grants: ‘This Is Our Existence’ – Jasper Smith (Online)
  • On Borrowed Time – Anissa Durham (Online)

Outstanding Motion Picture

  • Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • One of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

  • André Holland – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • Denzel Washington – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relatively Media)
  • Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

  • Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
  • Danielle Deadwyler – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Keke Palmer – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Kerry Washington – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
  • Tessa Thompson – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

  • A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Damson Idris – F1 (Apple Original Films)
  • Delroy Lindo – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Jeffrey Wright – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

  • Janelle James – One Of Them Days (Sony)
  • Jayme Lawson – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Regina Hall – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures )

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

  • 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • Magazine Dreams (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Opus (A24)
  • Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

  • 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • My Father’s Shadow (MUBI)
  • Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)
  • The Fisherman (Luu Vision Media)
  • The Secret Agent (NEON)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

  • A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Tabitha Brown – Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Films)
  • Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

  • Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams – “One Of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Coleman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh – “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
  • Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky – “Highest 2 Lowest” (A24)
  • Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke – “A House of Dynamite” (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

  • Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
  • KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
  • Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

  • Anthony Mackie – Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Craig Robinson – The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Danielle Brooks – The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Lil Rel Howery – Dog Man (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Quinta Brunson – Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)

  • ADO (Baylor University)
  • Before You Let Go (Find Your People Program)
  • Best Eyes (American Film Institute Conservatory)
  • Ella (Netflix)
  • Food for the Soul (P.A. Works)

Outstanding Short Form (Animated)

  • ASALI: Power of The Pollinators (Upenndo! Productions)
  • Black Man, Black Man (Chainwheel Productions)
  • Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (Cutting Edge Animation)
  • Jazzy Bells (Deep C Digital)
  • Wednesdays with Gramps (DreamWorks Animation)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

  • Cassandra Mann – Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)
  • Contessa Gayles – Songs from the Hole (Netflix)
  • Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relativity Media)
  • R.T. Thorne – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Rachael Abigail Holder – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture

  • Amari Price – The Knife (Relativity Media)
  • Estella K. Kahiha – The Woman in the Yard (Athena Studios)
  • Jahleel Kamara – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
  • Naya Desir-Johnson – Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Peyton Jackson – The Woman in the Yard (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture 

  • Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Kira Kelly – HIM (Universal Pictures)
  • Martim Vian – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich)
  • Sean Bobbitt – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Shabier Kirchner – Materialists (A24)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

  • Being Eddie (Netflix)
  • Fatherless No More (First Gen Films)
  • Left Behind (Corso Films)
  • The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
  • Who in the Hell is Regina Jones? (Weigel Productions)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

  • A Star Without A Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story (Apple TV)
  • Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO Max)
  • Great Migrations: A People on the Move (PBS)
  • High Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)
  • Number One On the Call Sheet (Apple TV)

Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)

  • Black Longevity (Apt. 5f)
  • CIRILO, A Legacy Untold (JOCMedia & Entertainment)
  • Freeman Vines (Switchboard)
  • Masaka Kids, a Rhythm Within (Netflix)
  • The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health (Ya Momz House)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

  • Aisha Muharrar – Hacks – “Clickable Face” (HBO Max)
  • Frida Perez – The Studio – “The War” (Apple TV)
  • Lizzy Darrell – Abbott Elementary – “100th Day of School” (ABC)
  • Monique D. Hall – Sesame Street – “Tamir’s Art Show” (MAX)
  • Naomi Ekperigin – St. Denis Medical – “Buffalo Bruce and the Matty Kid” (NBC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

  • Ajani Jackson – Law & Order – “Episode 10” (NBC)
  • Bryce Ahart, Stephanie McFarlane – FBI – “Episode 12” (CBS)
  • C.A. Johnson – The Beast in Me – “Thanatos” (Netflix)
  • Cynthia Adarkwa – The Pitt -“12:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)
  • Walter Mosley – The Lowdown – “Tulsa Turnaround” (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special

  • Aireka Muse – “Friends & Lovers” (Lifetime Movie Network)
  • Jas Summers – “Stay” (Hulu)
  • Jerrod Carmichael – “Jerrod Carmichael: Don’t Be Gay” (HBO Max)
  • Michael Elliot, Cory Tynan – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Roye Okupe and Brandon Easton – “Iyanu: The Age of Wonders” (Cartoon Network)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

  • Chloé Zhao – “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
  • Nora Garrett – “After the Hunt” (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Syreeta Singleton – “One of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Walter Mosley, Nadia Latif – “The Man in My Basement” (Andscape)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

  • Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest – “It’s Not A MoMent, It’s A Movement, Bitch!” (Netflix)
  • Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons – “Ultimate Frisbee” (Netflix)
  • Paul Hunter – Government Cheese – “Father Facts, Figures, and Failures” (Apple TV)
  • Theodore Witcher – Demascus – “The Thanksgiving Episode” (Tubi)
  • Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary – “The Science Fair” (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

  • Angela Barnes – Ironheart – “The Past Is the Past” (Disney+)
  • Anton Cropper – Reasonable Doubt – “Feelin’ It” (Hulu)
  • Jet Wilkinson – The Copenhagen Test – “Copenhagen” (Peacock)
  • Mario Van Peebles – Power Book III: Raising Kanan – “Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself” (STARZ)
  • Salli Richardson-Whitfield – The Gilded Age – “My Mind Is Made Up” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special

  • Alanna Brown – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Nicole G. Leier – “Trapped in the Spotlight” (Lifetime)
  • Olatunde Osunsanmi – “Star Trek: Section 31” (Paramount+)
  • Tailiah Breon – “Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story” (A&E)
  • Troy A. Scott – “I’ll Never Let You Go” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

  • Elijah Bynum – “Magazine Dreams” (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Guillermo del Toro – “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
  • Lawrence Lamont – “One of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • R.T. Thorne – “40 Acres” (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Film)

  • Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson – “Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” (Hulu)
  • Andre Gaines – “Boo-Yah – A Portrait of Stuart Scott” (ESPN)
  • Contessa Gayles – “Songs from the Hole” (Netflix)
  • Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – “Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)
  • Yemi Oyediran – “King of Them All: The Story of King Records” (PBS)

Outstanding Podcast – News and Information

  • Accidentally Informed (ComebackTV Presents)
  • Native Land Pod (iHeartMedia/Reasoned Choice Media)
  • The Assignment with Audie Cornish (CNN)
  • The Don Lemon Show (Lemon Media Network)
  • The Joy Reid Show (Image Lab Media Group LLC)

Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help

  • Ageless, Fearless, & Unscripted (Williamson Media Group)
  • Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford (Forged Path Productions)
  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • Just Heal with Dr. Jay (Cue & Coda Films)
  • Money And Wealth With John Hope Bryant (Black Effect-iHeartPodcasts)

Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture

  • Baby, This is Keke Palmer (Wondery)
  • Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (The Ringer)
  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • The Don Lemon Show (Lemon Media Network)
  • What Now? with Trevor Noah (Day Zero Productions)

Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment

  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe (Hillman Grad & Lemonada Media)
  • ReLiving Single with Erika Alexander & Kim Coles (Hartbeat)
  • Shawn Stockman’s On That Note (CTG Media)
  • SPOLITICS with Jemele Hill (Unbothered Inc)

Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form

  • Exonerated: The Cost of Wrongful Conviction (WURD Radio)
  • Interesting Things with JC (Jim Connors LLC)
  • Kingsland (SBH Productions and Audible)
  • Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown (Lemonada Media)
  • The Prophecy Season 2 (Audible, Simpson Street and Q Code Media)

Outstanding Costume Design (TV or Film)

  • “Bel-Air” – Queensylvia Akuchie (Peacock)
  • “Highest 2 Lowest” – Francine Jamison-Tanchuck (A24)
  • “Love, Brooklyn” – Missy Mickens (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • “Sinners” – Ruth E. Carter (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • “Wicked: For Good” – Paul Tazewell (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Make-up (TV or Film) 

  • “All’s Fair” – Kate Biscoe (Hulu)
  • “Bel-Air” – Alyssa Hudson (Peacock)
  • “Chief of War” – Christian Tinsley (Apple TV)
  • “Highest 2 Lowest” – Ngozi Olandu Young (A24)
  • “Sinners” – Ken Diaz (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Hair Styling (TV or Film)

  • “All’s Fair” – Valerie Jackson (Hulu)
  • “Bel-Air” – Terry Hunt (Peacock)
  • “Beyond the Gates” – Wankala L. Hinkson (CBS)
  • “Reasonable Doubt” – Deaundra Metzger (Hulu)
  • “Sinners” – Shunika Terry (Warner Bros. Pictures )

Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special 

  • Deanna Nowell, ACE – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
  • Maysie Hoy, ACE – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Michael P. Shawver – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Ralph Jean-Pierre – “The Beast in Me” (Netflix)
  • Shaheed Qaasim – “Poker Face” (Peacock)

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)

  • “Butterfly” – Yeonheon Jung (Prime Video)
  • “F1” – Gary Powell (Apple TV)
  • “ G20” – Grant Powell (Prime Video)
  • “Shadow Force” – Dartenea Bryant (Starz)
  • “Sinners” – Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Art/Comedy

  • Darren Watkins Jr. – @IShowSpeed
  • Jordan Howlett – @jordan_the_stallion8
  • Joshua Neal – @joshuadneal
  • Lou Young – @Louuuyoung
  • Tee Sanders – @teesanderscomedy

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Political/Culture

  • Elizabeth Booker Houston – @bookersquared
  • Garrison Hayes – @garrisonh
  • George Lee Jr. – @theconsciouslee
  • Joshua Doss – @doss.discourse
  • Lynae Vanee – @lynaevanee

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fashion/Beauty

  • Allyiah Gainer – @allyiahsface
  • De’arra Taylor – @dearra
  • Eni Popoola – @enigivensunday
  • Jackie Asamoah – @jackieaina
  • Wisdom Kaye – @wisdm

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech

  • Berlin Edmonds – @Berleezy
  • Cory Kenshin – @CoryxKenshin
  • Gerard Williams – @Hiphopgamer
  • Jay Ann Lopez – @blackgirlgamers
  • Khleo Thomas – @khleothomas

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food

  • Alex Hill – @justaddhotsauce
  • Jeanette Jenkins – @msjeanettejenkins
  • Keith Lee – @Keith_Lee125
  • Kimberly Villalobos – @KimmysKreations.1
  • Massy Arias – @Massy.arias

 

Itoro Umontuen serves as the National Sports and Entertainment Editor with Black Press USA. He is also a veteran photographer for 20 years, based in Atlanta for the past 15 years. His photography and videography style is a blend of portraiture and contemporary photojournalism. Previously, Umontuen served as the Managing Editor for The Atlanta Voice. While at the historic publication, Umontuen reported on local, statewide, and national politics. He also photographed thousands of sporting events, including Super Bowls and National Championships. He also engineers podcasts while mentoring emerging journalists. Umontuen is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University.

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Black History

At CBCF Conference, a Panel Asks What Black Public Figures Owe the People Who Follow Them

COLUMBUS TIMES — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference featured a panel titled “Platforms & Purpose: A Conversation With Black Men Leveraging Their Reach.” Actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, media personality Jason Lee, singer Eric Benét, and rapper Yung Joc discussed how public figures can translate influence into real-world change.

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At CBCF Conference, a Panel Asks What Black Public Figures Owe the People Who Follow Them
url('data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAYABgAAD//gA7Q1JFQVRPUjogZ2QtanBl

WASHINGTON — Among the more than 100 policy forums and brain trusts at this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference was a conversation about influence itself: who has it, and what they do with it.

"Platforms & Purpose: A Conversation With Black Men Leveraging Their Reach" brought together actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, media personality Jason Lee, singer Eric Benét and rapper and radio host Yung Joc. The session looked at how entertainers, creators and elected officials can turn public attention into real-world change.

The panel took place at the 55th Annual Legislative Conference, a five-day event in Washington that began Wednesday. This year’s theme is "Rooted, Ready & Rising," and the conference coincides with the CBC Foundation’s 50th anniversary. CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery has said the gathering is meant to "combine celebration with purpose," while taking up issues including voting rights, economic opportunity, education, health disparities and criminal justice.

That mix of celebrity and policy is a long-running feature of the conference, which brings lawmakers, advocates, entrepreneurs, students and entertainers into the same rooms. The panel’s premise reflects a broader question as creators reach audiences that rival traditional media.

A career built on both stage and street

Sampson is a natural fit for that conversation. The Houston native is known for television and film work, including HBO’s Insecure, and for his activism off screen. He co-founded BLD PWR, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines entertainment, education and activism.

The organization says its mission is to "reimagine and realize the liberated future we know our people deserve." It works to mobilize entertainment-industry figures and organize communities around racial, gender, immigration, economic and environmental justice, mental health and wellness, and opposition to state violence. BLD PWR emphasizes storytelling and community healing, and it centers the voices of Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities.

What to watch

The conference runs through Sunday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Details on sessions and registration are available through the CBC Foundation.

Based on reporting by Columbus Times.



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Black Press

BOOK REVIEW: ‘Laws of Solomon’ Reveals Tender Heart of Former Child Soldier

The monsters that came to him early in his sleep were the easy ones. It was the later demons that stole Solomon Nangobi’s sleep, the spirits of all the people he killed when he was a child soldier in Uganda, and when he was a fixer in New York as an adult. Their ghosts called to him with urgent voices, though he left that life behind long ago.

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Book cover of “Laws of Solomon.” Courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press
Book cover of “Laws of Solomon.” Courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press

Author: Eriq La Salle, Copyright: c.2026, Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, SRP: $18.99, Page Count: 304 pages

Finally, after so much work, you’ve left your past behind.

That’s what you tell yourself: what’s done is done and you can’t undo history. It’s over. You try not to think about last month, last year, a decade back because what does it matter? As in the new novel, “Laws of Solomon” by Eriq La Salle, remembering is too full of pain.

The monsters that came to him early in his sleep were the easy ones. It was the later demons that stole Solomon Nangobi’s sleep, the spirits of all the people he killed when he was a child soldier in Uganda, and when he was a fixer in New York as an adult. Their ghosts called to him with urgent voices, though he left that life behind long ago.

Now, his days were filled working the soil in gardens near Malibu, and he loved the quiet life.

Still, he kept his guns.

And he was glad: when Solomon recognized two Zeta gunmen stalking a well-dressed man, woman, and child through the gardens, he couldn’t walk away. He stopped the gangsters with bullets, but not before the adults and their bodyguards were dead. The child, an 8-year-old boy named Gaby, was safe, but Gaby couldn’t tell Solomon what was going on.

What became quickly certain, however, was that Solomonwas now Gaby’s guardian, and the Zeta crime boss wanted them dead, too.

When he was the same age as Gaby, Solomon saw unspeakable things, the murder of his parents, the destruction of his homeland, and the atrocities that Uganda dictator Idi Amin’s soldiers committed. He learned to kill, he observed, and he was hardened, understanding as a small boy that revenge was often necessary and needed, and that blood would shed at those times.

But Gaby was pure, an innocent, a child.

Solomon reached out to his contacts to try to get the boy to safety, but being a contact of a marked man was likewise a dangerous thing: the monsters outside were worse than the ones inside him.

Two words for you: ‘Whoo weee.’ That’s what you’re going to say when you close the back cover of “Laws of Solomon,” knowing that you’ve just been taken on a wild up-and-down, around-and-round ride.

La Salle makes it impossible not to like Solomon, an African man who has, over time, lost nearly everything dear to him and who has no faith in much of anything. Readers get that part of the story eventually, and there’s historical authenticity in some of it, but we never really get to know Solomon, which makes the book feel dark and dangerous. Along the way, we meet and get to know his helpers, which buoys Solomon’s chase to find safety for the boy, and your heart won’t stop pounding.

Keep in mind that this is a thriller partially set in 1970s Uganda, so expect lots of violence but don’t expect a lot of people to live. If you’re up for that, find “Laws of Solomon.” You won’t be able to leave it behind.



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Art

Event Preview: ‘Fashion v. Fascism’ – A Runway Revolution Is Coming to the Bay Area

“Every piece on this runway translates what is happening under fascism into a feeling,” explains Erica Furlong, the FVF creative director. “One designer’s trench coat is covered in pockets stamped ‘TRUTH,’ ‘MEMORY,’ ‘HOPE,’ ‘VOTE,’ ‘FUTURE,’ because that’s literally what gets seized first, pocket by pocket, under fascist decline. Fashion can hold grief and hope in the same silhouette, and that tension is exactly what this moment needs.”

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Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.
Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.

“Fashion vs. Fascism” (FVF) is a visually immersive evening of fashion, music and political theater exposing the rise of fascism in the U.S. and the need to resist. Democracy is under siege, and culture is one of our most potent defenses, organizers say.

Called a live “runway revolution,” FvF premieres Oct. 3 at The Rotunda, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.

A play that is part fashion show, part protest, part performance art, FvF stages five runway collections spotlighting the pillars of contemporary fascist politics and the urgent need to resist: the myth of a “glorious past,” the manufactured emergencies used to justify surveillance and crackdowns, and the oligarchs and grifters profiting from it all. Runway fashion shares the stage with political theater and live music, with a closing call to action.

“We need lawsuits, ballots and mass protests, but none of it lands if we’re not also fighting for people’s imagination,” says Linda Burnham, co-producer of the show. “People are exhausted and scared. FvF will expose the absurdities of fascist mythology and ideology in ways a news headline cannot and spark new ideas about how to resist.”

“Fascism doesn’t win by policy alone. It wins by telling a story. A myth about a ‘Golden Age.’ A permanent emergency that makes cruelty seem necessary. That’s not an accident, it’s a strategy, and it works on the same terrain as culture: image, spectacle, emotion,” says Aya De León, the show’s playwright.

“Every piece on this runway translates what is happening under fascism into a feeling,” explains Erica Furlong, the FVF creative director. “One designer’s trench coat is covered in pockets stamped ‘TRUTH,’ ‘MEMORY,’ ‘HOPE,’ ‘VOTE,’ ‘FUTURE,’ because that’s literally what gets seized first, pocket by pocket, under fascist decline. Fashion can hold grief and hope in the same silhouette, and that tension is exactly what this moment needs.”

At its best, fashion is about creativity, diversity, innovation, experimentation and the free exchange of ideas. Fascism, by contrast, demands conformity and control, while suppressing dissent.

FVF was created, organizers say, because democracy should always be in style.

Featured designers include Erica Varize, Rickie Lee, Tianna Charity, Julie Wong, and Maria Flores. The evening features a script by lead playwright Aya De León, musical performances by Mindeullae Project and DJ Emancipation, and other special guests.

FvF is designed to travel. Following the Oakland premiere, FvF will extend its reach through a documentary short, a curriculum on contemporary fascism in the U.S., and a full replication playbook — design templates, script, and curriculum — so organizers in other cities can stage their own version of the show.

Get more details at www.fashionvfascism.org.

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Art

Event Preview: ‘Fashion v. Fascism’ – A Runway Revolution Is Coming to the Bay Area

“Every piece on this runway translates what is happening under fascism into a feeling,” explains Erica Furlong, the FVF creative director. “One designer’s trench coat is covered in pockets stamped ‘TRUTH,’ ‘MEMORY,’ ‘HOPE,’ ‘VOTE,’ ‘FUTURE,’ because that’s literally what gets seized first, pocket by pocket, under fascist decline. Fashion can hold grief and hope in the same silhouette, and that tension is exactly what this moment needs.”

Published

on

Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.
Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.

“Fashion vs. Fascism” (FVF) is a visually immersive evening of fashion, music and political theater exposing the rise of fascism in the U.S. and the need to resist. Democracy is under siege, and culture is one of our most potent defenses, organizers say.

Called a live “runway revolution,” FvF premieres Oct. 3 at The Rotunda, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.

A play that is part fashion show, part protest, part performance art, FvF stages five runway collections spotlighting the pillars of contemporary fascist politics and the urgent need to resist: the myth of a “glorious past,” the manufactured emergencies used to justify surveillance and crackdowns, and the oligarchs and grifters profiting from it all. Runway fashion shares the stage with political theater and live music, with a closing call to action.

“We need lawsuits, ballots and mass protests, but none of it lands if we’re not also fighting for people’s imagination,” says Linda Burnham, co-producer of the show. “People are exhausted and scared. FvF will expose the absurdities of fascist mythology and ideology in ways a news headline cannot and spark new ideas about how to resist.”

“Fascism doesn’t win by policy alone. It wins by telling a story. A myth about a ‘Golden Age.’ A permanent emergency that makes cruelty seem necessary. That’s not an accident, it’s a strategy, and it works on the same terrain as culture: image, spectacle, emotion,” says Aya De León, the show’s playwright.

“Every piece on this runway translates what is happening under fascism into a feeling,” explains Erica Furlong, the FVF creative director. “One designer’s trench coat is covered in pockets stamped ‘TRUTH,’ ‘MEMORY,’ ‘HOPE,’ ‘VOTE,’ ‘FUTURE,’ because that’s literally what gets seized first, pocket by pocket, under fascist decline. Fashion can hold grief and hope in the same silhouette, and that tension is exactly what this moment needs.”

At its best, fashion is about creativity, diversity, innovation, experimentation and the free exchange of ideas. Fascism, by contrast, demands conformity and control, while suppressing dissent.

FVF was created, organizers say, because democracy should always be in style.

Featured designers include Erica Varize, Rickie Lee, Tianna Charity, Julie Wong, and Maria Flores. The evening features a script by lead playwright Aya De León, musical performances by Mindeullae Project and DJ Emancipation, and other special guests.

FvF is designed to travel. Following the Oakland premiere, FvF will extend its reach through a documentary short, a curriculum on contemporary fascism in the U.S., and a full replication playbook — design templates, script, and curriculum — so organizers in other cities can stage their own version of the show.

Get more details at www.fashionvfascism.org.



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Black History

Tradition Comes to the Streets in 11th Annual Black-Eyed Pea Festival at the Freedom Farmers Market

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(L. to R.) Black-Eyed Pea Festival Director Wanda Ravernell with Barbara Lee and Winky Binky Dogs owner, Tyranny. Courtesy photo.
(L. to R.) Black-Eyed Pea Festival Director Wanda Ravernell with Barbara Lee and Winky Binky Dogs owner, Tyranny. Courtesy photo.

Mayor Barbara Lee stops by to support vendors, Winky Dinky Dogs owner Tyranny Allen

A streamlined Oakland Black-Eyed Pea Festival took place on Sat. Sept. 12 in the lower Temescal neighborhood on the blocked off street that connect Shattuck and Telegraph avenues.

An early start brought together vendor regulars from festival partner, the Freedom Farmers’ Market, and vendors who have supported the festival at its previous location at Marston Campbell Park.

Wanda Ravernell, the festival producer/director was on the verge of cancelling the festival because of funding limitations in May before reaching out to Elaine Smith, president of Farms to grow, Inc., which supervisors the market.

From its start in 2014, the festival has focused on the traditions of African American culture through music, food and art. That emphasis included fresh food vendors, particularly growers of African American legacy crops like black-eyed peas, yams, watermelon, collard greens and okra, which all originate in Africa.

To Fresno farmer Will Scott of Scott Family Farms, the Freedom Farmers’ Market allows him to bring those crops to the inner city – and support the nutrition of African Americans.

Shortly after the festival opened Saturday morning with prayers and salutes to the ancestors by Wakan Wiya Two-Spirit Drum and Awon Ohun Omnira, led M. Zamora and Otobaji Stewart respectively, 86-year-old Scott, the son of a sharecropper, announced that he will put other endeavors aside to dedicate the rest of his life to raise those foods.

Smith shared that Farms to Grow assists Black farmers in helping them overcome one of their main impediments to success – distribution – while creating alliances to help Black people maintain farmland and make it prosperous for younger generations to keep farming and farmland in the family.

As the morning progressed to afternoon, a steady stream of visitors drifted from booth to booth, chatting with vendors and each other.

Scott noted that a market day like this was what he was accustomed to in his youth, where the market was not just about buying things but also a place for valuable social exchange.

The social aspect became even pronounced shortly after midday when Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee stopped by to shop and visit with some of the vendors, including Ellen Bimpeh of Sankofa, and Ravernell who was selling T-shirts designed by Stewart.

Lee is also a fan of Winky Dinky Dogs, an eatery owned by Tyranny Allen whose second brick-and-mortar venture further anchors a hub of businesses at that corner.

As he has in previous years, Andre Thierry of Accordion Soul, closed the festival with a 90-minute set that brought young and the young-at-heart on their feet to dance in a line or as impromptu couples.

And, surprisingly, the man Allen refers to as the mayor of 45th Street, came out on cane and chair to sit by the curb in the sun and listen to music reminiscent of his Louisiana roots. His appearance seemed to echo Scott’s observance about the market: to bring people together.

The Freedom Farmers’ Market is located at 4521 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland and is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month until Nov. 14. For more information and to apply to be a vendor, go to https://www.farmstogrow.org/freedomfarmersmarket

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Black Press

Event Preview: ‘Fashion v. Fascism’ – A Runway Revolution Is Coming to the Bay Area

“Fashion v. Fascism” (FVF) is an upcoming visually immersive event combining fashion, music, and political theater to expose the rise of fascism in the U.S. and advocate for resistance. Described as a live “runway revolution,” FVF premieres October 3 at The Rotunda in downtown Oakland. The event will feature five runway collections spotlighting elements of contemporary fascist politics, accompanied by political theater and live music, culminating in a call to action. Organizers state that culture is a potent defense when democracy is under siege. Read more to learn about this unique event.

Published

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Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.
Designer Rickie Lee. Courtesy image.

“Fashion vs. Fascism” (FVF) is a visually immersive evening of fashion, music and political theater exposing the rise of fascism in the U.S. and the need to resist. Democracy is under siege, and culture is one of our most potent defenses, organizers say.

Called a live “runway revolution,” FvF premieres Oct. 3 at The Rotunda, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.

A play that is part fashion show, part protest, part performance art, FvF stages five runway collections spotlighting the pillars of contemporary fascist politics and the urgent need to resist: the myth of a “glorious past,” the manufactured emergencies used to justify surveillance and crackdowns, and the oligarchs and grifters profiting from it all. Runway fashion shares the stage with political theater and live music, with a closing call to action.

“We need lawsuits, ballots and mass protests, but none of it lands if we’re not also fighting for people’s imagination,” says Linda Burnham, co-producer of the show. “People are exhausted and scared. FvF will expose the absurdities of fascist mythology and ideology in ways a news headline cannot and spark new ideas about how to resist.”

“Fascism doesn’t win by policy alone. It wins by telling a story. A myth about a ‘Golden Age.’ A permanent emergency that makes cruelty seem necessary. That’s not an accident, it’s a strategy, and it works on the same terrain as culture: image, spectacle, emotion,” says Aya De León, the show’s playwright.

“Every piece on this runway translates what is happening under fascism into a feeling,” explains Erica Furlong, the FVF creative director. “One designer’s trench coat is covered in pockets stamped ‘TRUTH,’ ‘MEMORY,’ ‘HOPE,’ ‘VOTE,’ ‘FUTURE,’ because that’s literally what gets seized first, pocket by pocket, under fascist decline. Fashion can hold grief and hope in the same silhouette, and that tension is exactly what this moment needs.”

At its best, fashion is about creativity, diversity, innovation, experimentation and the free exchange of ideas. Fascism, by contrast, demands conformity and control, while suppressing dissent.

FVF was created, organizers say, because democracy should always be in style.

Featured designers include Erica Varize, Rickie Lee, Tianna Charity, Julie Wong, and Maria Flores. The evening features a script by lead playwright Aya De León, musical performances by Mindeullae Project and DJ Emancipation, and other special guests.

FvF is designed to travel. Following the Oakland premiere, FvF will extend its reach through a documentary short, a curriculum on contemporary fascism in the U.S., and a full replication playbook — design templates, script, and curriculum — so organizers in other cities can stage their own version of the show.

Get more details at www.fashionvfascism.org.

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