'Soul Food' sweeps Image Awards

By Jessica Caldwell
Staff Writer

The 29th Annual NAACP Image Awards, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 14, was a dazzling tribute to the best in black entertainment. This year's theme, "imagine," dared its participants to not only imagine a world of equality and fairness, but to create it.
The guiding mission of the NAACP Image Awards was to honor projects and individuals of all races who have helped promote "positive images of people of color." Past award winners have included Maya Angelou, Garth Brooks, Oprah Winfrey and Jackie Chan.
The 1998 awards included 40 categories, including literature, music, television, motion pictures and special achievement.
The hit movie "Soul Food" was a big winner and a self-proclaimed "sweep" for the film's stars. It won five awards out of the six it was nominated for, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Album, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Vanessa Williams), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Irma P. Hall) and Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress (Brandon Hammond).
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, co-creator of "Soul Food," said he felt that though the film received no Academy Award nominations, it had already captured the most important honor in winning at the Image Awards. The movie had aimed to promote positive, wholesome African-American family values, therefore being recognized by the NAACP, who strives for a similar goal, Edmonds said. This acknowledgement meant more to him and the ensemble cast than an Oscar would have. Edmonds was also honored as Outstanding Male Artist and garnered the special award of Entertainer of the Year.
Steven Spielberg's "Amistad" came up big in the actor category, winning Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (Djimon Hounsou) and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Morgan Freeman). Hounsou said his most memorable experience in filming "Amistad" was fully understanding the pain still existing for African Americans in the United States. He also professed that working with Spielberg was an "unfathomable experience" and deemed it completely indescribable.
CBS's Touched By An Angel was another big winner, claiming the awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (Della Reese) and Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress (Lou Gossett Jr. and Lynn Whitfield).
Erykah Badu, winner of Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Female Artist for her album Baduizm accepted her award on behalf of artists that go unheard. Other music award winners included Boyz II Men for Outstanding Duo or Group, Will Smith for Outstanding Rap Artist, Kenny G for Outstanding Jazz Artist and God's Property for Outstanding Gospel Artist.
The NAACP honored the Isley Brothers and Nancy Wilson with its Hall of Fame Award. The Isley Brothers, who started their show biz career in 1959, have remained timeless throughout the decades. They have brought us such hits as "It's Your Thing" and "Twist and Shout" and introduced the world to a young, talented guitar phenomenon in 1963 named Jimi Hendrix.
Wilson, who remains one of the few remaining legends of America's "golden age of song," entered the mainstream in 1962 with "Save Your Love For Me." Her career included winning a Grammy, an Emmy and various other professional awards. She credited her longevity to working on projects close to her heart.
Other distinguished award winners were Alexis M. Herman, the U.S. Secretary of labor, who won the President's Award; John E. Williams, corporate relations vice president of Northwest Airlines, who won the Corporate Award; and Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, who won the Chairman's Award.
The 29th NAACP Image Awards will be telecast by Fox on March 5.