As Hollywood continues the debate about its diversity issues, in front of and behind the camera, on Friday many looked to the NAACP’s Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles as a strong example of what the industry needs.
With this in mind, celebrities on the event’s red carpet weighed in on the importance of having an awards show that celebrates diversity along with artistry and achievement.
Below, check out some of their thoughts on why the NAACP Image awards matter:
David Alan Grier, “The Carmichael Show” “The NAACP’s importance as a political and cultural institution cannot be understated. [Especially] at this time, at a point when I thought we’ve advanced, but it feels like two steps forward and three steps back. A lot of things have changed, but a lot of things haven’t. But tonight, we can celebrate our own and rejoice.”
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Will Smith and Jada-Pinkett Smith grace the affair.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Gabrielle Union shines on the red carpet.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Bryshere Y. Gray from “Empire” joins the festivities.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Amber Riley works the camera.
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O’shea Jackson and father Ice Cube pause on the red carpet.
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Robin Givens gives Golden Brooks a big hug on the carpet.
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Michael B. Jordan was among the A-listers at the party.
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Yara Shahidi, left, with Kerry Washington, center, pause for photographers.
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Teyonah Parris offers a warm smile on the red carpet.
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Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend join the festivities.
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Keke Palmer serves up a killer pose.
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Affion Crockett gets picture-perfect ready.
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Kerry Washington with Viola Davis pause on the red carpet.
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Host Anthony Anderson joins the party.
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Tracey Ellis Ross graced the affair.
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Cree Summer gets wacky on the carpet.
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Jurnee Smollett-Bell offers a smile on the carpet.
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Gugu Mbatha-Raw graces the affiar.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph works the camera.
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MAJOR serves up a dose of fashion on the carpet.
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Laverne Cox pauses on the red carpet.
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The Rev. Howard-John Wesley arrives with a group in tow.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Skai Jackson works the camera.
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Shonda Rimes joins the party.
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Trinity Stokes gets playful on the red carpet.
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Richard Roundtree and his guest join the festivities.
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Nature Naughton works the camera.
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Lee Daniels and his guest serve up a dose of dapper on the carpet.
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Tichina Arnold pauses on the red carpet.
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Morri Chestnut and her guest were among the A-listers at the party.
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Gabby Sidibe joins the festivities.
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Wendy Raquel Robinson has a moment on the red carpet.
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Aun Janue Ellis makes a statement on the carpet.
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Jimmy Jean-Louis works the camera.
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A celebrity graces the affair.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Adrienne C. Moore, “Orange is the New Black” “Because the NAACP is diversity. A lot of time people think NAACP and automatically think black people. But the correct title is Assn. of Colored People -- that’s any diverse human being who understands living in society as a minority.”
Amber Riley, “Glee” “It’s important because everyone’s art deserves to be recognized. As much as we do it for the love of it, and not for the attention, it’s nice to be told ‘you did a really good job.’”
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Erica Ash, “Survivor’s Remorse” “For a very long time, blacks were portrayed very homogeneously. When you have an event like this where so many black people come together from so many different walks of life and different kinds of shows, you get to see how much diversity there is in this one race. It’s important for people to see that.”
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Actors Gabrielle Union, left, and Keegan-Michael Key ignite laughs onstage.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Michael B. Jordan wins awards for outstanding actor in a motion picture award for “Creed” and Entertainer of the Year.
(Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actress Viola Davis presents the award for outstanding actor in a motion picture.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor Don Cheadle, from left, director Spike Lee, actors Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Laurence Fishburne and Terrence Howard are among the A-listers at the ceremony.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actress Taraji P. Henson accepts the award for outstanding actress in a drama series for “Empire.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors Morris Chestnut, left, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell announce the nominees in the actress in a drama series category.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Director F. Gary Gray accepts award for outstanding motion picture for “Straight Outta Compton” with several cast members.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors Darby Stanchfield, left, and Kerry Washington join the festivities.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor Terrence Howard accepts the award for outstanding actor in a drama series for “Empire.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors Tika Sumpter, left, and Ken Jeong have fun onstage as Jeong pretends to receive an award himself.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Recording artist John Legend performs onstage before receiving the President’s Award.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Singer-songwriter John Legend accepts the President’s Award.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actresses LeToya Luckett, left, and Wendy Raquel Robinson pair up to announce a winning contender.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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The cast and crew of “Black-ish” accept the award for outstanding comedy series.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor Sylvester Stallone introudces the film “Creed.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors (and spouses) Julius Tennon and Viola Davis strike a pose.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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David Ramsey, left, and Teyonah Parris present the award for outstanding drama series.
(Phil McCarten/Invision/AP)
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Actress Tracee Ellis Ross celebrates her win for outstanding actress in a comedy series for “Black-ish.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Rapper-actor-producer Ice Cube, left, and his son, actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., work the camera.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actresses Gabrielle Union, from left, Taraji P. Henson, Loretta Devine, Tika Sumpter and Jada Pinkett Smith shine for the camera.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Director Spike Lee and actress Teyonah Parris from the film “Chi-Raq” graced the affair.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor Anthony Anderson accepts the award for outstanding actor in a comedy series for “Black-ish.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actresses Kerry Washington, left, and Gina Rodriguez take the stage.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Model Chrissy Teigen, left, and her husband, singer-songwriter John Legend, graced the affair.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor Jussie Smollett sings one of John Legend’s hit songs.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors Will Smith, right, and Jada Pinkett Smith join the festivities.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Alice Smith gives a rendition of “Glory,” a song for which John Legend and Common won an Academy Award.
(Phil McCarten/Invision/AP)
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Actresses Gabrielle Union, from left, Loretta Devine and Tika Sumpter share a laugh.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actress Sanaa Lathan accepts the award for outstanding actress in a motion picture for “The Perfect Guy.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., left, and his father, rapper-actor-producer Ice Cube, present the award for oustanding actress in a motion picture.
(Phil McCarten/Invision/AP)
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Host Anthony Anderson raps onstage to boot.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Roslyn Brock, NAACP chairman of the National Board of Directors, honors the nominees.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
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Actors Will Smith, left, and Terrence Howard catch up at the awards show.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
Lena Waithe, “Master of None” “I disagree with Stacey Dash. I think it’s important that we celebrate each other. I think it’s important that we shine a light on our achievements because we helped make this industry what it is. So, I don’t think it’s cool to be ignored.”
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Kimberly Elise, “Hit the Floor” “It’s nice to know someone is thinking of those who aren’t always thought of. We’re celebrating and honoring the work that everyone does. It’s also an opportunity for us to gather as a community and celebrate each other.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Moesha” “Never has being shut out of an award show done so much for an award show like the NAACP Image Awards, which was created so that no one was left out. And here you have a frenzy on the black red carpet! Look at God, or should I say Goddess because she must be a woman.”
Tre’vell Anderson is a former film reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A sociology graduate from Morehouse College in Atlanta, they also received their master’s in journalism from Stanford University. They left The Times in November 2018.
