Where do I begin on this one? The NAACP Image Award nominations are out, and…
sigh.
WTF has happened to the NAACP Image Awards?!
Do you remember back in the day when we actually used to really look forward to the Awards? It was the one time a year when every truly talented Black performer, who’d been shafted at every other award ceremony, got their well deserved glory.
Now days? I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking, but if the nominations are any hint- it’s a sad, sad state of affairs at the Image Awards.
Let’s look at just a few of the nominees, starting with Best Motion Picture:
The Blind Side- Do I really need to say more? I shouldn’t, but I will anyway. This movie stars Sandra Bullock, who, I generally like as an actress. I know that if I see her play an upity, elitist, entitled southern woman who swoops in and saves the life of one Black, obese, “loser” Black kid “on the wrong path”. Give me a fuggin’ break. It’s such a typically cliche movie to produce with Black’s and Whites. Why couldn’t he have been a fat White kid? Can you say Dangerous Minds? White woman saves the day. Finding Forester *zzzzz…*- we get it. I bet some White people think that if they make enough of these movies- the debt is paid. Please- y’all just addin’ interest with this bullshit.
Invictus: Basically the same thing, just different people. I know, I know, it’s based on a true story, but as Spike Lee always says “what is the REAL story?” Amestad is a perfect example which he cites regularly: Matthew McConaughey “is not the story- for me”. Damn right Spike, damn right. I doubt I want to see Matt Damon. I doubt HE is the story. I have no desire to see this movie. It gets a “meh” from me.
This is It: Michael Jackson. Really? That was one of the best movies of 2009? Really? No.
Precious: I don’t even know if I should touch this one. Another obese kid living a life of hell. Book was great, haven’t seen the movie. But I know a LOT of Black folk are mad it was ever made and swear they will boycott Oprah AND her wife husband Tyler Perry for putting money behind the project. I don’t think exposing the human condition is wrong- no matter which race, no matter how painful.
The Princess and the *&%$@# Frog: Give me a damn break. As a wise sista told me, the Princess in this movie is “a mammy Princess”. The end.
That’s it.
Yes, that’s it.
Let’s look at a little bit more:
Denzel is nominated for “The Taking of Pelham 123″. Right. He plays a black dude who thinks he can redeem himself after taking a bribe at work, by chasing down an insane gunman who otherwise would have escaped. Right.
Jamie Foxx is nominated for Law Abiding Citizen. Insert eye roll here. They nominated him for that roll vs. his role in The Soloist. Hell, they shoulda nominated Robert Downey Jr. for The Soloist. But I digress.
Idris Elba. Man. This one really hurts. They nominated the brother for playing a character who cheats on his wife with a white woman- eventually pushing his wife to have to take said white woman out because she’ goes crazy for the mandingo and feels entitled to him at any cost. This is a brilliant nomination. Why they didn’t nominate Bey is beyond me. *gags*
Morgan Freeman- Invictus. Huh?
That one dude- The Blind Side. I think we covered that enough in the previous category.
And the women:
Anika Rose- She voices the mammy Princess. Next.
Gabourey Sidibe- Precious. Sigh. I can’t. I won’t. When she was begging to be beaten in the movie preview, I was a puddle on the floor.
Sandra Bullock- The Blind Side. *blinks*
Taraji P. Henson- Tyler Perry’s latest…”movie”. Taraji’s tuff. Can’t take nuthin’ from her.
Sophie Okonedo – “Skin” haven’t seen it, hope she wins.
I don’t want to get too deep into the Supporting Nominees- except for one:
Zoe Saldana- Avatar. Wasn’t she a blue alien in that movie? They nominated her for being blue? Am I right about this? I’m not going to see Avatar- I’ve heard enough. If I go to the theater for that movie I might burn the place down in an aboriginal rage.
The honorable mentions:
In the category of Outstanding News/Information one of the nominees is…Judge Mathis. Who can I slap? Who can I slap right now?
In the category of Outstanding Variety (series or special) one of the nominees is… Michael Jackson Memorial Service. That makes perfect sense. I was entertained, weren’t you? Forget the desire to slap, I’m feeling like I need to start pullin’ folks cards for at least a year long suspension.
In the category of Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children’s Program one of the nominees is… Nick Cannon. In a youth program. Y’all can’t be putting Mariah Carry’s pet husband in a youth category for anything, ever.
The NAACP Image Awards has officially become coonery. The only teeny tiny bit of dap I can give them is that Beyonce is not nominated for yet another award she clearly isn’t talented enough to deserve.
However, that all goes away when you take a closer look and realize the awards will be broadcast on…FOX.
Goodnight, and good fuggin’ luck.
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Sable Verity is a reporter and commentator based in Seattle who covers social and political issues for KBCS Radio and a number of online and print news outlets. All of this is her fault. 
SV: “If I go to the theater for that movie I might burn the place down in an aboriginal rage” – Yes, the flatline of thought makes people feel powerless.
Answer?: Showcase US humanity in Seattle by initiating the [Sable Verity] Seattle Showcase awards for ‘performances that dignify humanity’.
Hector, you’ve knocked me over…. “performances that dignify humanity…”
"Why couldn’t he have been a fat White kid?" It is based on the book, Blind Side, and it's a true story. That's why she's white and he's black. That's being said, I found her performance irritating.
Westelo- it was a rhetorical question!