Viola Davis will receive the Chairman’s Award at the 57th NAACP Image Awards, the organization announced. The ceremony airs live Saturday, Feb. 28 on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Why Viola? This honor goes to public figures who use their visibility to drive real change — through advocacy, fundraising or hands-on programs. The NAACP pointed to Davis’s long career in front of and behind the camera, her public philanthropy, and sustained civic work as reasons for the choice. Beyond awards and roles, the board emphasized that Davis’s actions off-screen match her prominence on-screen.
Career and impact, in brief – Davis has been a consistent presence in film, television and theater, and she’s repeatedly used that platform to spotlight equity and opportunity in the arts. – She’s won nine NAACP Image Awards for performances including How to Get Away With Murder, The Woman King, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Won’t Back Down and The Help. She also received an Image Award for her memoir, Finding Me, and is nominated this year for the Amazon MGM Studios action thriller G20. – Off-camera, Davis has backed anti-hunger efforts and launched the Davis-Tennon Foundation, among other community-focused initiatives.
Recent honors and context This Chairman’s Award arrives amid a string of recognitions that highlight both creative excellence and public service: Davis received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, and accepted an honorary doctorate from the American Film Institute. Those honors help frame why the NAACP singled her out now.
What the Chairman’s Award means The Chairman’s Award celebrates people who turn fame into impact — not just by speaking up but by making measurable investments in their communities. NAACP chair Leon W. Russell called Davis a “generational talent,” while BET’s Connie Orlando praised the way Davis pairs art with action, citing hunger relief and community uplift among her efforts.
Other honorees and highlights – Feb. 26: The Creative Honors will present the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award to Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant for his community-organizing and economic accountability work, including the Target FAST initiative. – Feb. 27: A$AP Rocky will receive the Vanguard Award for fashion during the Image Awards fashion show.
Weeklong programming (selected highlights) The Image Awards week blends panels, showcases and in-person events to broaden reach and spark conversation. Key events run Feb. 23–March 1 and include: – Celebrity Golf Invitational — Monday, Feb. 23 – Virtual awards block on YouTube/NAACP+ — Feb. 23–25 (non-televised categories) – NAACP+ Studios Short Film Showcase — Tuesday, Feb. 24 – NAACP Hollywood Symposium — panels on industry topics — Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Telecast finale hosted by Deon Cole — Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8 PM ET/PT – Young, Gifted, and Black Brunch — Sunday, March 1
How the public can get involved Fans can vote in select categories on the NAACP’s official site; voting details and deadlines are posted there and on the organization’s social channels. If you plan to participate, check eligibility and follow the official voting instructions. Viola Davis’s award recognizes a body of work that blends performance, producing and public service — a reminder that cultural influence often carries a responsibility to push for change.