Joseph Sterling

In back-to-back events, the African American community comes together for a weekend celebrating Black excellence. On February 22, the 51st NAACP Image Awards airing live on BET Networks is the preeminent multicultural awards show from an African American point of view. It celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. The next evening, the American Black Film Festival will host its annual awards season gala, ABFF Honors. The ceremony celebrates Black culture by recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to American entertainment. The honorees being celebrated at ABFF Honors have leveraged their career to carve out a space for people of color in Hollywood helping to create a more diverse landscape. ABFF Honors is an opportunity for the industry to acknowledge how far entertainment has come and thank the individuals who have made it their mission to propel the African American community forward.