Photo Courtesy of Twitter/@CariBPress

The NAACP today announced that mass media icon Tom Joyner will be honored with the Vanguard Award at the 50th NAACP Image Awards. The Vanguard Award is presented to a person whose groundbreaking work increases our understanding and awareness of racial and social issues. To date, the special award has been presented to Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis, surviving Memphis Sanitation Workers, Prince, Russell Simmons, Stanley Kramer, Steven Spielberg and Wyclef Jean. The 50th NAACP Image Awards will air during a LIVE TV special on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Anthony Anderson.

“As we enter the 50th year of the NAACP Image Awards, we are proud to bestow on Tom Joyner the Vanguard Award,” says Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP. “He has been a staple within the Black community not only on the airwaves but also as an activist and advocate, contributing to society and paving the way for our youth. It was only fitting to celebrate him with this award.”

Joyner first gained popularity after earning the nickname “The Fly Jock” while flying round-trip between Dallas and Chicago five days a week for seven years to host morning drive and afternoons in two different cities. In taking his morning show to syndication in 1994, Joyner became one of the dominant communicators in the country reaching an incredibly loyal and responsive audience every weekday morning. In his 25 years as a leader in the industry, Joyner’s impact and influence has never wavered.

The Tom Joyner Morning Show has been a primary platform for every influencer, entertainer, and the leader wanting to reach and interact with the African-American community, from President Obama and Aretha Franklin to Rev. Sharpton and Tyler Perry.

Also, the Tom Joyner Foundation has raised over $65 million supporting 29,000 students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The NAACP also announced the first round of star studded presenters which includes nomineesAmandla Stenberg (Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture – The Hate U Give), Kerry Washington (Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series – How to Get Away with Murder), KiKi Layne (Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture & Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture – If Beale Street Could Talk), Lena Waithe(Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series – The Chi), Letitia Wright (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture & Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture -Black Panther), Thandie Newton (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -Westworld), and Trevor Noah (Outstanding Talk Series, Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information & Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Outstanding Variety Show – Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia) along with Chrissy Metz, Malinda Williams, Mike Colter, Roshon Fegan, and Tika Sumpter.

Winners for the 50th NAACP Image Awards will be revealed during the LIVE TV special airing on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9pm/8c from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. As previously announced, Congresswoman Maxine Waters will be honored with the prestigious NAACP Chairman’s Award. In addition to the live telecast, TV One will also air the 50thNAACP Image Awards Tribute Special, sponsored by Toyota, immediately preceding the show at 8pm/7c.

The 50th NAACP Image Awards production team includes: Executive Producers

Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin; Director, Tony McCuin; Co-Executive Producer, Byron

Phillips; Producer, Robin Reinhardt; and Executive in Charge of Production, Rachel Frimer.

About NAACP:

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at NAACP.org.

About TV One:

Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Uncensored, Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction and The NAACP Image Awards. In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.