Dave Chappelle To Receive NAACP President’s Award
Written by djfrosty on February 13, 2025
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Dave Chappelle will receive the President’s Award at the upcoming NAACP Image Awards, which will be held later this month.
On Tuesday (February 11), the NAACP announced that the iconic comedian Dave Chappelle will be the recipient of their lauded President’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards ceremony, which will be held on February 22. The award, which is bestowed “in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service”, has been given to such luminaries as Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. The honor comes at a keen moment for Chappelle, as he’s preparing to embark on another tour this year, and was the host of Saturday Night Live after the 2024 presidential election last November. He’s slated to take part in the variety show’s 50th anniversary special which will be aired on February 16.
“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in the press release announcing the honor. “Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress.”
The 56th NAACP Image Awards will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on February 22 at 8 P.M. EST, and aired live on BET and CBS. This year, the event will be extended to run for 2.5 hours and honor the Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Pasadena communities who have been affected by the recent wildfires. The ceremony will also provide support for the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which was created to preserve the area’s cultural heritage and to defend homeowners from being displaced. The fund was created through a partnership between BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole (JSSK), and WME with LA County. The fund collaborated with and received feedback from several local community organizations, including Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage, and WalkGood LA,