USA: NAACP IMAGE AWARDS: FORMER US PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, ACTOR SIDNEY POITIER AND SINGER YOLANDA ADAMS ARE AMONG THOSE HONOURED

Record ID: 391026

  • Title: USA: NAACP IMAGE AWARDS: FORMER US PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, ACTOR SIDNEY POITIER AND SINGER YOLANDA ADAMS ARE AMONG THOSE HONOURED
  • Date: 3rd March 2001
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 3, 2001) (REUTERS) SV HALLE BERRY (0.11) SIDE ZOOM IN BILLIE DEE WILLIAMS (0.14) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAYE DIGGS SAYING OF SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS AWARDS NIGHT, "It's important that we're recognized by our own, you know. And Hollywood tends to be 'white-heavy' at award shows, usual award shows, a lot of black actors and ac
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3ERH4IQ0TBS1A5AM5CV2DORNW
  • Story Text: Former US President Bill Clinton was among those honored at the 32nd annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday (March 3). Other top honors given out by the nation's largest civil rights organization went to actor Sidney Poitier, comedian Steve Harvey and gospel singer Yolanda Adams This year's awards, "A Journey of Excellence,"
    featured many of the most important names in contemporary entertainment highlighted by the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award to Poitier, who has also directed films and written several books. This year's awards were held over two nights, at the Universal Amphitheater, in Universal City, and will air on March 9th. The March 1st taping of the awards featured hosts Brandi and Sinbad. Highlights of the night were performances by Destiny's Child, Jill Scott and Joe.
    The March 3rd taping featured motion picture, television awards, a special honorary awards given to Sidney Poitier, and the President's Award presented to former US President Bill Clinton.
    Actors Morgan Freeman and Michael Clarke Duncan presented Poitier with his award. Poitier is credited with appearing in several roles during the 1960s that helped break the color barrier in Hollywood, including "In the Heat of the Night,"
    and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
    "I shall remember this night forever,'' Poitier said.
    Chris Tucker was the host for this evening. During one segment, Tucker sat beside Clinton in the audience and joked that he was so popular among minorities that some consider him the first black president.
    "That's why I went to Harlem, because I think I am the first black president,'' Clinton responded, referring to plans for his new office in New York.
    Among those appearing on the show were Steve Harvey, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jay Leno, and NAACP President & CEO Kweisi Mfume.
    Mfume presented Clinton with the President's Award and credited him with improving the lives of blacks during his eight years in office.
    "What really matters is our common humanity,"Clinton told the crowd. "When we forget it, we suffer. When we remember it, we prosper.''
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