LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Viola Davis<\/a> delivered a powerful speech about self-worth, resilience and collective progress on the 57th NAACP Image Awards<\/a> stage Saturday night, telling the audience that personal and national growth require confronting truth and hardship.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no becoming without healing and without a radical acceptance of one\u2019s truth,\u201d Davis said after receiving the NAACP\u2019s Chairman\u2019s Award at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium near Los Angeles. \u201cWe either move forward together or not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n The Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner reflected on her journey from childhood poverty in Rhode Island to international success, saying, \u201cI just wanted to be somebody. I wanted success because I thought it was significance.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis, 60, has earned widespread acclaim for performances in films including \u201cThe Help,\u201d \u201cMa Rainey\u2019s Black Bottom\u201d and \u201cDoubt,\u201d while also captivating television audiences in the legal drama \u201cHow to Get Away With Murder.\u201d She achieved EGOT status after winning a Grammy for the audiobook version of her memoir, \u201cFinding Me,\u201d adding to two Tonys, an Emmy and an Academy Award for the film adaptation of \u201cFences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one can describe the journey of going from the little chocolate girl searching for hope,\u201d Davis said, \u201cto the girl living a transcendent life.\u201d<\/p>\n The ceremony kicked off with host Deon Cole<\/a> blending sharp political humor with pointed cultural commentary, including a censored jab referencing immigration enforcement and a nod to the recent awards-season disruption involving Michael B. Jordan<\/a> and Delroy Lindo<\/a> at the British Academy Film Awards.<\/a><\/p>\n Cole\u2019s monologue drew loud reactions from the crowd as he joked about removing anything associated with \u201cICE\u201d from the guest list before shifting into a comedic prayer segment that touched on celebrities and current headlines.<\/p>\n The actor-comedian then referenced the BAFTA disruption, which occurred Feb. 21 when a racial slur was shouted<\/a> from the audience by Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson while Jordan and Lindo were presenting during a ceremony that had been prerecorded earlier in the day.<\/p>\n In his live monologue, Cole humorously gave his warning to anyone prone to inappropriate outbursts.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there are any white men out here in the audience with Tourette\u2019s, I advise you to tell them they can read the room tonight,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n The ceremony, featuring Black achievement across film, television, music and literature, featured appearances from Regina Hall<\/a> and other presenters, with major honors and competitive awards throughout the evening.<\/p>\n Hall presented the first award of the night to Miles Caton, who accepted the trophy for outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture for \u201cSinners.\u201d Before handing over the award, Hall also acknowledged Caton’s \u201cSinners\u201d co-stars Jordan and Lindo, praising their composure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to just take a moment to the two kings who are in this audience and send you so much love for your class,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n \u201cSinners,\u201d Ryan Coogler\u2019s pulsating supernatural thriller, led the awards in the movie categories with 18 nominations.<\/p>\n A tribute was also on the evening’s agenda for Colman Domingo<\/a>, honored with the President\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n The ceremony also honored the Rev. Jesse Jackson<\/a> and his decades of activism and influence on American politics, culture and social justice movements.<\/p>\nDeon Cole opens ceremony with sharp jokes, BAFTA jab<\/h2>\n
Jackson remembered<\/h2>\n