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57th NAACP Image Awards: ‘Sinners’ Dominates With 18 Noms, ‘Bel-Air’ Leads Television Category

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards have unveiled their nominations, celebrating standout achievements across film, television, music, and culture. This year’s contenders for Entertainer of the Year include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor, reflecting a diverse mix of artistic excellence and cultural impact. Select category winners will be announced during […]

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The 2026 NAACP Image Awards have unveiled their nominations, celebrating standout achievements across film, television, music, and culture. This year’s contenders for Entertainer of the Year include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor, reflecting a diverse mix of artistic excellence and cultural impact.

Select category winners will be announced during a two-hour live broadcast on Saturday, February 28, 2026, airing from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The ceremony begins at 8 PM ET / 8 PM PT and will be shown on BET, with a simultaneous broadcast on CBS. The theme for this year’s celebration, “We See You,” highlights recognition, visibility, and empowerment within the Black community.

In the film categories, Sinners emerges as the clear frontrunner, earning an impressive 18 nominations, while Highest 2 Lowest follows with nine. On the television side, Bel-Air leads the pack with seven nominations. Close behind are Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz, each securing six nods, while Forever earns five. Among networks and streamers, Netflix stands out with a commanding total of 47 nominations, underscoring its strong presence this awards season.

Entertainer of the Year

  • Cynthia Erivo
  • Doechii
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Michael B. Jordan
  • Teyana Taylor

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Harlem (Prime Video)
  • Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
  • The Residence (Netflix)
  • The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
  • David Alan Grier – “St. Denis Medical” (NBC)
  • David Oyelowo – “Government Cheese” (Apple TV)
  • Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
  • Vince Staples – “The Vince Staples Show” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
  • Maya Rudolph – “Loot” (Apple TV)
  • Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
  • Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Uzo Aduba – “The Residence” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Colman Domingo – “The Four Seasons” (Netflix)
  • Giancarlo Esposito – “The Residence” (Netflix)
  • Josh Johnson – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
  • Wendell Pierce – “Elsbeth” (CBS)
  • William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Edwina Finley – “The Residence” (Netflix)
  • Ego Nwodim – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
  • Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Jerrie Johnson – “Harlem” (Prime Video)
  • Wanda Sykes – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Bel-Air (Peacock)
  • Beyond The Gates (CBS)
  • Forever (Netflix)
  • Paradise (Hulu)
  • Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

  • Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
  • Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Michael Cooper Jr. – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Morris Chestnut – “Watson” (CBS)
  • Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

  • Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi – “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
  • Lovie Simone – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Patina Miller – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (STARZ)
  • Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Ato Essandoh – “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
  • Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
  • Jacob Latimore – “The Chi” (Showtime)
  • Wood Harris – “Forever” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)
  • Audra McDonald – “The Gilded Age” (HBO Max)
  • Karen Pittman – “Forever” (Netflix)
  • Karen Pittman – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
  • Nicole Beharie – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • G20 (Prime Video)
  • Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Ruth & Boaz (Netflix)
  • Straw (Netflix)
  • Washington Black (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Brian Tyree Henry – “Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
  • Giancarlo Esposito – “Please Don’t Feed The Children”( Tubi)
  • Idris Elba – “Heads of State” (Prime Video)
  • Taye Diggs – “Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers & Ours” (Lifetime)
  • Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Brandy Norwood – “Christmas Everyday” (Lifetime)
  • Dominique Thorne – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
  • Serayah – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)
  • Viola Davis – “G20” (Prime Video)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) 

  • CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
  • Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)
  • Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts (ABC)
  • Michelle Obama: The Style, The Power, The Look: A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
  • The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)

Outstanding Talk Series

  • House Guest (YouTube TV)
  • Sherri (Syndicated)
  • Tamron Hall Show (ABC)
  • The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
  • The View (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Services/Game Show

  • Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
  • Full Court Press (ESPN, ESPN+)
  • Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
  • Ready to Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

  • Tiny Desk Concerts Celebrates Black Music Month 2025 (NPR)
  • HBCU Honors (BET Networks)
  • BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
  • Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
  • Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Children’s Program

  • Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+)
  • Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
  • Reading Rainbow (KidZuko)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)

  • Amanda Christine – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
  • Blake Cameron James – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
  • Jeremiah Felder – The Residence (Netflix)
  • Leah Sava Jeffries – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
  • Percy Daggs IV – Paradise (Hulu)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

  • Abby Phillip – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
  • Don Lemon – The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)
  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates. Jr. (PBS)
  • Scott Evans – House Guest (YouTube TV)
  • Sherri Shepherd – Sherri (Syndicated)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble 

  • Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
  • Barbara Corcoran, Lorie Grenier, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, Kevin O’Leary – Shark Tank (ABC)
  • Bozoma St. John and Jimmy Fallon – On Brand with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
  • Kevin Hart – BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
  • Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance

  • Brandee Evans – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)
  • Dave Chappelle – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
  • Janet Hubert – Bel-Air (Peacock)
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner – Murder in a Small Town (FOX)
  • Morris Chestnut – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Animated Series

  • Disney Jr.’s Ariel (Disney Jr.)
  • Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
  • Lil Kev (BET+)
  • Weather Hunters (PBS KIDS)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

  • Anika Noni Rose – The Mighty Nein (Prime Video)
  • Ayo Edebiri – Big Mouth (Netflix)
  • Cedric the Entertainer – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
  • Graceyn Hollingsworth – Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
  • Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary

  • College Gameday: Michael Vick (ESPN)
  • Glam Through The Ages (KeyTV Network)
  • Noochie’s Live From The Front Porch (YouTube TV)
  • The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show starring Kendrick Lamar (FOX)
  • The Daily Show: After The Cut (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

  • Chinaka Hodge – Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Daniel Lawrence Taylor – Boarders (Tubi)
  • Haolu Wang – Black Mirror (Netflix)
  • Jas Summers – Stay (Hulu)
  • Tearrance Averelle Chisolm – Demascus (Tubi)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)

  • Glynn Turman – Straw (Netflix)
  • Jay Ellis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
  • Rockmond Dunbar – Straw (Netflix)
  • Sterling K. Brown – Washington Black (Hulu)
  • Ving Rhames – Dope Thief (Apple TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

  • Angela Bassett – Zero Day (Netflix)
  • Lyric Ross – Ironheart (Disney+)
  • Marsai Martin – G20 (Prime Video)
  • Sherri Shepherd – Straw (Netflix)
  • Teyana Taylor – Straw (Netflix)

Outstanding New Artist

  • Elmiene – Useless Without You (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Lee Vasi – Love Me To Life (Capitol CMG/Leeda Music Group)
  • Madison McFerrin – Scorpio (MadMcFerrin Music LLC)
  • Monaleo – Who Did the Body? (Columbia Records)
  • Ravyn Lenae – Bicycle Race (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

  • Bryson Tiller – Solace & The Vices (RCA Records/TrapSoul)
  • Chris Brown – It Depends feat. Byrson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • GIVĒON – Beloved (Epic Records)
  • Kendrick Lamar – luther (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
  • Leon Thomas – MUTT Deluxe: Heel (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

  • Alex Isley – Hands (Warner Records)
  • Cardi B – Am I the Drama? (Atlantic Records)
  • Doechii – Anxiety (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
  • Teyana Taylor – Escape Room (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Jazz Album

  • For Dinah – Ledisi (Candid Records)
  • We Insist! 2025 – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)
  • Beneath the Skin – Nnenna Freelon (Origin Records)
  • Live-Action – Nate Smith – Nate Smith (Naive)
  • Griot Songs – Omar Thomas Large Ensemble (Omar Thomas Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

  • Jekalyn X The Legends – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
  • Live at Maverick City – Maverick City Music (Tribl Records, LLC)
  • Only On The Road (Live) – Tye Tribbett (Freligious Music)
  • Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)
  • The Live Reunion: Washington D.C. – JJ Hairson and Youthful Praise (James Town Music)

Outstanding International Song

  • In Our Sight – Skip Marley (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Is It – Tyla (Epic Records)
  • Love – Burna Boy (Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records)
  • With You – Davido feat. Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
  • You4Me – Tiwa Savage (Everything Savage/EMPIRE)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

  • Anxiety – Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • Boots on the Ground – 803Fresh (Snake Eyez Music Group/APG)
  • Escape Room – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)
  • Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
  • luther – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Album

  • Am I The Drama? – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
  • Beloved – GIVĒON (Epic Records)
  • Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • Mutt Deluxe: Heel – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
  • SOS Deluxe: LANA – SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

  • Godfather of Harlem: Season 4 (Original Series Soundtrack) (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
  • Highest 2 Lowest (Original Soundtrack) (A24)
  • Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Season 3 (Music from the Series) (Walt Disney Records)
  • Wicked: For Good (The Soundtrack) (Republic Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

  • Church – Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat John Legend (Motown Gospel)
  • Constant – Live – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore, Anthony Gargiula (Tribl Records)
  • Do it Again – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)
  • Don’t Faint – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
  • Jesus I Do – Mariah Carey feat. The Clark Sisters (gamma.)

Outstanding Song – Soul/R&B

  • Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
  • Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist (Epic Records)
  • It Depends – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • Yes It Is – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
  • Bed of Roses – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap Song

  • Anxiety — Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
  • Chains & Whips – Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • ErrTime – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
  • Ride (Remix) – Chance the Rapper feat. Do or Die & Twista (CTR LLC)
  • Typa – GloRilla (CMG/Interscope Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

  • 803Fresh feat. Fantasia – Boots on the Ground Remix (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)
  • Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips (Roc Nation Distribution)
  • Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – For Good (Republic Records)
  • Mariah Carey, The Clark Sisters – Jesus I Do (gamma.)
  • Travis Greene & Andra Day – Let Freedom Ring (Greenelight Music/TRIBL Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) 

  • Cardi B, Kehlani – Safe (Atlantic Records)
  • Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – It Depends (Remix) (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
  • kwn feat. Kehlani – Worst Behavior (RCA Records)
  • FLO – The Mood (Remixes) (Uptown Records/Republic Records)
  • Leon Thomas & Chris Brown – MUTT (Remix) (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film

  • Boots (Madison Gate Records)
  • Eyes of Wakanda Original Soundtrack (Hollywood Records)
  • Marvel’s Ironheart: Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) (Hollywood Records)
  • One of Them Days (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Madison Gate Records, TriStar Productions)
  • Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

  • Can’t Get Enough – Kennedy Ryan (Forever/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group)
  • Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic – Harmonia Rosales (W. W. Norton & Company)
  • Death of the Author – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)
  • Happy Land – Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Berkley, Penguin Random House)
  • Harlem Rhapsody – Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley, Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction 

  • A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)
  • Born in Flames – Bench Ansfield (W. W. Norton & Company)
  • From These Roots – Tamara Lanier (Penguin Random House, Crown)
  • Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era – Calvin Stovall Jr. (Brown Books Publishing Group)
  • I Am Nobody’s Slave – Lee Hawkins (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

  • Anela Malik – American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
  • Charles B. Fancher – Red Clay (Blackstone Publishing)
  • Dr. Judith Joseph – High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (Little, Brown Spark)
  • Lorna Lewis – A Sky Full of Love (Lake Union)
  • Zoe B. Wallbrook – History Lessons (Soho Crime)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography

  • 107 Days – Kamala Harris (Simon & Schuster)
  • The Look – Michelle Obama (Crown)
  • Toni at Random – Dana A. Williams (Amistad, HarperCollins)
  • Truly – Lionel Richie (HarperOne)
  • Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three – Dawn Staley (Black Privilege Publishing (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster))

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

  • American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States – Anela Malik (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
  • Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine – Dr. Jessica Harris (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
  • We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives – Muhammad Abdul-Hadi (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
  • Who Better Than You? – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)
  • Wine Pairing for the People – Cha McCoy (Harvest, an imprint of WilliamMorrow, HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

  • Death of the First Idea – Rickey Laurentiis (Alfred A. Knopf)
  • Florida Water – Aja Monet (Haymarket Books)
  • The Grace of Black Mothers – Martheaus Perkins (Trio House Press)
  • The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems – Patricia Smith (Scribner)
  • We Look Better Alive – Ali Black (Burnside Review Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

  • Black Boy, Rise – Brynne Barnes (Chronicle Books)
  • Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball – Charles R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Press)
  • My Quiet Place – Monica Mikai (Chronicle Books )
  • The History of We – Nikkolas Smith (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

  • (S)Kin – Ibi Zoboi (HarperCollins/Versify)
  • Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi – Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)
  • The Scammer – Tiffany D. Jackson (HarperCollins – Quill Tree Books)
  • The Story of My Anger – Jasminne Mendez (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Through Our Teeth – Pamela N. Harris (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel 

  • Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel – Calista Bril (Penguin Young Readers)
  • Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls – Rob Edwards (Stranger Comics)
  • One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel – Rita William-Garcia (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books)
  • Parable of the Talents A Graphic Novel Adaptation – Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy, Illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame (Abrams ComicArts)
  • They Choose Violence – Sheldon Allen (AWA Studios)

Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism  

  • As Black New Yorkers Move Out, N.Y.C. Politics May Be Reshaped – Maya King (Newspaper)
  • Audra McDonald Took The Stage and Rewrote The Rules – Adam Davenport (Online)
  • Black joy and boots: How line dancing is fanning cultural connection – Lisa Respers France (News Service)
  • HBCUs Reel as Trump Cuts Black-Focused Grants: ‘This Is Our Existence’ – Jasper Smith (Online)
  • On Borrowed Time – Anissa Durham (Online)

Outstanding Motion Picture

  • Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • One of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

  • André Holland – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • Denzel Washington – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relatively Media)
  • Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

  • Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
  • Danielle Deadwyler – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Keke Palmer – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Kerry Washington – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
  • Tessa Thompson – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

  • A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Damson Idris – F1 (Apple Original Films)
  • Delroy Lindo – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Jeffrey Wright – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

  • Janelle James – One Of Them Days (Sony)
  • Jayme Lawson – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Regina Hall – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures )

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

  • 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • Magazine Dreams (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Opus (A24)
  • Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

  • 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • My Father’s Shadow (MUBI)
  • Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)
  • The Fisherman (Luu Vision Media)
  • The Secret Agent (NEON)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

  • A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
  • Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Tabitha Brown – Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Films)
  • Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

  • Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams – “One Of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Coleman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh – “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
  • Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky – “Highest 2 Lowest” (A24)
  • Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke – “A House of Dynamite” (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

  • Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
  • KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
  • Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

  • Anthony Mackie – Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Craig Robinson – The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Danielle Brooks – The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Lil Rel Howery – Dog Man (DreamWorks Animation)
  • Quinta Brunson – Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)

  • ADO (Baylor University)
  • Before You Let Go (Find Your People Program)
  • Best Eyes (American Film Institute Conservatory)
  • Ella (Netflix)
  • Food for the Soul (P.A. Works)

Outstanding Short Form (Animated)

  • ASALI: Power of The Pollinators (Upenndo! Productions)
  • Black Man, Black Man (Chainwheel Productions)
  • Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (Cutting Edge Animation)
  • Jazzy Bells (Deep C Digital)
  • Wednesdays with Gramps (DreamWorks Animation)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

  • Cassandra Mann – Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)
  • Contessa Gayles – Songs from the Hole (Netflix)
  • Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relativity Media)
  • R.T. Thorne – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Rachael Abigail Holder – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture

  • Amari Price – The Knife (Relativity Media)
  • Estella K. Kahiha – The Woman in the Yard (Athena Studios)
  • Jahleel Kamara – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
  • Naya Desir-Johnson – Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Peyton Jackson – The Woman in the Yard (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture 

  • Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Kira Kelly – HIM (Universal Pictures)
  • Martim Vian – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich)
  • Sean Bobbitt – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Shabier Kirchner – Materialists (A24)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

  • Being Eddie (Netflix)
  • Fatherless No More (First Gen Films)
  • Left Behind (Corso Films)
  • The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
  • Who in the Hell is Regina Jones? (Weigel Productions)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

  • A Star Without A Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story (Apple TV)
  • Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO Max)
  • Great Migrations: A People on the Move (PBS)
  • High Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)
  • Number One On the Call Sheet (Apple TV)

Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)

  • Black Longevity (Apt. 5f)
  • CIRILO, A Legacy Untold (JOCMedia & Entertainment)
  • Freeman Vines (Switchboard)
  • Masaka Kids, a Rhythm Within (Netflix)
  • The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health (Ya Momz House)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

  • Aisha Muharrar – Hacks – “Clickable Face” (HBO Max)
  • Frida Perez – The Studio – “The War” (Apple TV)
  • Lizzy Darrell – Abbott Elementary – “100th Day of School” (ABC)
  • Monique D. Hall – Sesame Street – “Tamir’s Art Show” (MAX)
  • Naomi Ekperigin – St. Denis Medical – “Buffalo Bruce and the Matty Kid” (NBC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

  • Ajani Jackson – Law & Order – “Episode 10” (NBC)
  • Bryce Ahart, Stephanie McFarlane – FBI – “Episode 12” (CBS)
  • C.A. Johnson – The Beast in Me – “Thanatos” (Netflix)
  • Cynthia Adarkwa – The Pitt -“12:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)
  • Walter Mosley – The Lowdown – “Tulsa Turnaround” (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special

  • Aireka Muse – “Friends & Lovers” (Lifetime Movie Network)
  • Jas Summers – “Stay” (Hulu)
  • Jerrod Carmichael – “Jerrod Carmichael: Don’t Be Gay” (HBO Max)
  • Michael Elliot, Cory Tynan – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Roye Okupe and Brandon Easton – “Iyanu: The Age of Wonders” (Cartoon Network)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

  • Chloé Zhao – “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
  • Nora Garrett – “After the Hunt” (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Syreeta Singleton – “One of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Walter Mosley, Nadia Latif – “The Man in My Basement” (Andscape)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

  • Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest – “It’s Not A MoMent, It’s A Movement, Bitch!” (Netflix)
  • Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons – “Ultimate Frisbee” (Netflix)
  • Paul Hunter – Government Cheese – “Father Facts, Figures, and Failures” (Apple TV)
  • Theodore Witcher – Demascus – “The Thanksgiving Episode” (Tubi)
  • Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary – “The Science Fair” (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

  • Angela Barnes – Ironheart – “The Past Is the Past” (Disney+)
  • Anton Cropper – Reasonable Doubt – “Feelin’ It” (Hulu)
  • Jet Wilkinson – The Copenhagen Test – “Copenhagen” (Peacock)
  • Mario Van Peebles – Power Book III: Raising Kanan – “Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself” (STARZ)
  • Salli Richardson-Whitfield – The Gilded Age – “My Mind Is Made Up” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special

  • Alanna Brown – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Nicole G. Leier – “Trapped in the Spotlight” (Lifetime)
  • Olatunde Osunsanmi – “Star Trek: Section 31” (Paramount+)
  • Tailiah Breon – “Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story” (A&E)
  • Troy A. Scott – “I’ll Never Let You Go” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

  • Elijah Bynum – “Magazine Dreams” (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Guillermo del Toro – “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
  • Lawrence Lamont – “One of Them Days” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • R.T. Thorne – “40 Acres” (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Film)

  • Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson – “Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” (Hulu)
  • Andre Gaines – “Boo-Yah – A Portrait of Stuart Scott” (ESPN)
  • Contessa Gayles – “Songs from the Hole” (Netflix)
  • Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – “Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)
  • Yemi Oyediran – “King of Them All: The Story of King Records” (PBS)

Outstanding Podcast – News and Information

  • Accidentally Informed (ComebackTV Presents)
  • Native Land Pod (iHeartMedia/Reasoned Choice Media)
  • The Assignment with Audie Cornish (CNN)
  • The Don Lemon Show (Lemon Media Network)
  • The Joy Reid Show (Image Lab Media Group LLC)

Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help

  • Ageless, Fearless, & Unscripted (Williamson Media Group)
  • Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford (Forged Path Productions)
  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • Just Heal with Dr. Jay (Cue & Coda Films)
  • Money And Wealth With John Hope Bryant (Black Effect-iHeartPodcasts)

Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture

  • Baby, This is Keke Palmer (Wondery)
  • Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (The Ringer)
  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • The Don Lemon Show (Lemon Media Network)
  • What Now? with Trevor Noah (Day Zero Productions)

Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment

  • IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson (Higher Ground)
  • Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe (Hillman Grad & Lemonada Media)
  • ReLiving Single with Erika Alexander & Kim Coles (Hartbeat)
  • Shawn Stockman’s On That Note (CTG Media)
  • SPOLITICS with Jemele Hill (Unbothered Inc)

Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form

  • Exonerated: The Cost of Wrongful Conviction (WURD Radio)
  • Interesting Things with JC (Jim Connors LLC)
  • Kingsland (SBH Productions and Audible)
  • Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown (Lemonada Media)
  • The Prophecy Season 2 (Audible, Simpson Street and Q Code Media)

Outstanding Costume Design (TV or Film)

  • “Bel-Air” – Queensylvia Akuchie (Peacock)
  • “Highest 2 Lowest” – Francine Jamison-Tanchuck (A24)
  • “Love, Brooklyn” – Missy Mickens (Greenwich Entertainment)
  • “Sinners” – Ruth E. Carter (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • “Wicked: For Good” – Paul Tazewell (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Make-up (TV or Film) 

  • “All’s Fair” – Kate Biscoe (Hulu)
  • “Bel-Air” – Alyssa Hudson (Peacock)
  • “Chief of War” – Christian Tinsley (Apple TV)
  • “Highest 2 Lowest” – Ngozi Olandu Young (A24)
  • “Sinners” – Ken Diaz (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Hair Styling (TV or Film)

  • “All’s Fair” – Valerie Jackson (Hulu)
  • “Bel-Air” – Terry Hunt (Peacock)
  • “Beyond the Gates” – Wankala L. Hinkson (CBS)
  • “Reasonable Doubt” – Deaundra Metzger (Hulu)
  • “Sinners” – Shunika Terry (Warner Bros. Pictures )

Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special 

  • Deanna Nowell, ACE – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
  • Maysie Hoy, ACE – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  • Michael P. Shawver – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • Ralph Jean-Pierre – “The Beast in Me” (Netflix)
  • Shaheed Qaasim – “Poker Face” (Peacock)

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)

  • “Butterfly” – Yeonheon Jung (Prime Video)
  • “F1” – Gary Powell (Apple TV)
  • “ G20” – Grant Powell (Prime Video)
  • “Shadow Force” – Dartenea Bryant (Starz)
  • “Sinners” – Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Art/Comedy

  • Darren Watkins Jr. – @IShowSpeed
  • Jordan Howlett – @jordan_the_stallion8
  • Joshua Neal – @joshuadneal
  • Lou Young – @Louuuyoung
  • Tee Sanders – @teesanderscomedy

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Political/Culture

  • Elizabeth Booker Houston – @bookersquared
  • Garrison Hayes – @garrisonh
  • George Lee Jr. – @theconsciouslee
  • Joshua Doss – @doss.discourse
  • Lynae Vanee – @lynaevanee

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fashion/Beauty

  • Allyiah Gainer – @allyiahsface
  • De’arra Taylor – @dearra
  • Eni Popoola – @enigivensunday
  • Jackie Asamoah – @jackieaina
  • Wisdom Kaye – @wisdm

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech

  • Berlin Edmonds – @Berleezy
  • Cory Kenshin – @CoryxKenshin
  • Gerard Williams – @Hiphopgamer
  • Jay Ann Lopez – @blackgirlgamers
  • Khleo Thomas – @khleothomas

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food

  • Alex Hill – @justaddhotsauce
  • Jeanette Jenkins – @msjeanettejenkins
  • Keith Lee – @Keith_Lee125
  • Kimberly Villalobos – @KimmysKreations.1
  • Massy Arias – @Massy.arias

 

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#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: The Dream Cannot be Realized Without Financial Freedom

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Dr. King spent the final chapter of his life pushing the country to face economic injustice. The day before he was tragically assassinated, Dr. King stood with sanitation workers in Memphis to call for economic equality. He helped launch the Poor People’s Campaign because he knew freedom hollowed out by poverty is not freedom at all. Dr. King kept pushing America to match its promises with practical pathways.

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By Ben Crump

We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. each January with speeches, service projects, and by reciting powerful quotes we know by heart.

But too many Black families will spend much of MLK Day the same way they spend most Mondays.

With the gas tank hovering near empty, hoping the car can go until the next paycheck arrives. With a prescription waiting at the pharmacy counter because they cannot afford the cost.

With a paycheck that has to stretch further than what seems possible.

Dr. King understood that true dignity means being able to afford and build a good life. In one of his clearest reminders, he asked what it means to “eat at an integrated lunch counter” if you cannot “buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee.”

That question still carries weight for many. Personal freedom will not be achieved without financial freedom.

Dr. King spent the final chapter of his life pushing the country to face economic injustice. The day before he was tragically assassinated, Dr. King stood with sanitation workers in Memphis to call for economic equality. He helped launch the Poor People’s Campaign because he knew freedom hollowed out by poverty is not freedom at all. Dr. King kept pushing America to match its promises with practical pathways.

That is the part of his legacy we should sit with this MLK Day.

This work has never been more important or needed. The cost of groceries, rent, and childcare have become an increased burden. And many families go from stable to scrambling with just one unexpected expense.

These realities are on display in a recent national survey commissioned by DreamFi, echoing what so many families already feel so deeply. More than one in four respondents told us they used check-cashing services in the past year. This finding makes it clear that too many households still need simpler and more accessible options for moving money.

The survey also shows how unexpected expenses impact families. Only 41% of Black respondents said they could cover a $1,000 emergency, compared with 56% of white respondents. When a tire blows out, when a child gets sick, when hours get cut, the question is not theoretical. The question is immediate and the impact is real.

We must shine a light on this struggle and work to equip families with tools to build better futures. We must recognize Dr. King’s wisdom and acknowledge that financial stability is a civil rights issue, because financial instability limits the ability to have choices.

The survey also found hope that can guide how we move forward.

Black families are not turning away from the idea of building stability. In fact, they are reaching for it. In the survey, 79% of Black respondents said they sought out financial education in the past six months. Ours is a community hungry for tools and a fair shot at creating a better tomorrow.

So, what does it mean to honor Dr. King right now?

It means we get practical.

It means we expand access to clear, trustworthy financial education that respects people’s time and speaks to real solutions. It means we support savings pathways that help families prepare for emergencies before emergencies arrive. It means we encourage options that make routine transactions easier and less costly, so a family is not paying extra simply to manage their own money.

Most of all, it means we stop treating financial instability as normal. Because normal is not the same as acceptable.

Dr. King asked America to make its promises real. The best way to honor him now is to provide opportunities for everyone to achieve Dr. King’s dream.

Ben Crump is a nationally renowned civil rights attorney and founder of Ben Crump Law. Known as “Black America’s attorney general,” he has represented families in some of the most high-profile civil rights cases of our time, including those of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols, and Ahmaud Arbery. He is also co-founder of DreamFi, a financial empowerment platform focused on helping everyday people build stability through practical resources.

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#NNPA BlackPress

Four Stolen Futures: Will H-E-B Do The Right Thing?

BLACKPRESSUSA – An 18-wheeler carrying H-E-B merchandise struck a disabled car on US 87 near Dalhart, resulting in the deaths of four young Texas women. Dashcam footage shows their hazard lights flashing before impact. As H-E-B points to subsidiary distance, families wait for accountability.

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By TotallyRandie
Social Media Correspondent, BlackPressUSA

Eighty thousand pounds of steel doesn’t just collide—it obliterates. While corporate lawyers hide behind the sterile jargon of liability and subsidiaries, four Houston families are left haunted by viral footage of a tragedy that should never have happened. On November 5, 2025, a stretch of US 87 became a crime scene of corporate negligence, claiming four vibrant Texan futures in a heartbeat.

The dashcam footage is a nightmare in real-time. A black Nissan Altima, hazards blinking in a desperate plea for space, crawls along the right lane near Dalhart. The four young women inside did exactly what we are taught to do during an emergency: slowed down and put on hazards. They were then met by an 18-wheeler hauling H-E-B merchandise. The truck plowed into them at full speed—no brakes, no swerve, no mercy.

The lives of Breanna Brantley, Taylor White, Myunique Johnson, and Lakeisha Brown were not just lost; they were stolen. To understand the gravity of this loss, you have to realize these women were just starting their lives.

  • Breanna Brantley (30): A woman entering the prime of her life, a new chapter of wisdom and growth.

  • Taylor White (27): A wanderlust traveler and the “glue” for her younger siblings; she was their primary mother figure.

  • Myunique Johnson (20): Affectionately known as Mimi. Her life was just starting to bloom

  • Lakeisha Brown (19): A basketball standout set for Blinn College this spring—the beacon of hope meant to rewrite her family’s financial history.

In Texas, political math often attempts to cap the value of a human life, but the $250,000 ceiling suggested by current tort reform is an insult to these families. Breanna, Taylor, Myunique, and Lakeisha were more than just Black women; they were daughters, sisters, and athletes whose lives were abruptly taken away. They deserved milestones—graduations, weddings, and the simple right to grow old—not to be reduced to an apology for a “tragic loss.”

While the dashcam footage suggests an open-and-shut case, Attorney Rodney Jones of Rodney Jones Law Group P.C. revealed in our exclusive interview that reality is far more tangled. The road to justice could be a long, drawn-out process depending on how HEB decides to handle the case.

“This is a senseless accident that could have easily been prevented,” Jones says. “They had the right to possess that lane, and that truck driver had the responsibility to pay attention”. H-E-B is a Texas institution, but its response has triggered deep public outcry. While issuing an apology, the company quickly distanced itself, claiming the carrier wasn’t a “direct” H-E-B truck—despite hauling H-E-B products and being operated by Parkway, a known H-E-B subsidiary.

The driver, Guadalupe Villarreal, reportedly has a history of speeding and prior rear-end accidents. Jones is firm: “I’m looking strictly at his ability to be behind that 18-wheeler. This is a simple matter of a grossly negligent driver and the companies that put him on the road being held accountable.”

“H-E-B can’t bring them back, but they can make sure this never happens again,” Jones argues. “There is no price for a life, but there must be a price for negligence. It’s time for H-E-B to stop pointing fingers and start vetting their drivers properly to protect the public.”

While the public demands criminal charges, Jones notes that the legal wheel turns slowly. However, in the civil arena, H-E-B’s silence is deafening; the company has yet to contact the families directly.

“We desire a speedy resolution so we don’t have to drag this out,” Jones concluded. “H-E-B is a beloved chain here in Texas. Hopefully, they come to the table to resolve this fast. I feel like the longer they make these families wait for closure, the more it should cost.”

The ball is in H-E-B’s court. Will they live up to the Texas-strong values they advertise, or will they let a legal loophole define their legacy?




Bell @TotallyRandie
Multimedia Correspondent & Digital Creator
BlackPressUsa.Com/TotallyRandie.com /Stylemagazine.com

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#NNPA BlackPress

Travis Scott Teaches Us How to Give Forward

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE It’s not just about the gift under the tree in December; it’s about the skills, the confidence, and the opportunities provided in the months leading up to it.

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By TotallyRandie

The fourth quarter of the year is often dubbed “giving season,” and for good reason. As October fades into November, the cultural zeitgeist shifts toward gratitude and the spirit of the holidays. For most, this means making a yearly donation to a local food bank or participating in a toy drive for the less fortunate. But for Houston’s own Travis Scott, “giving season” isn’t a seasonal trend—it’s a sophisticated, year-round blueprint for community empowerment.

Since launching the Cactus Jack Foundation in November 2020 alongside his sister, Jordan Webster, Scott has moved beyond the traditional celebrity check-writing model. While the world watches his every move on global stages, his foundation has been quietly and consistently pouring into the soil that raised him. Whether it’s supporting SWAC baseball athletes or funding the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund for HBCU students, the mission is clear: provide the resources for the next generation to not just survive, but to lead.

From the Streets to the Stars

This past fall, the foundation took its most ambitious leap yet. In October 2025, Cactus Jack partnered with Space Center Houston—the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center—to launch a first-of-its-kind STEM incubator.

The program was specifically designed for students within the Houston Independent School District (HISD), many of whom come from underserved communities where a career in aerospace often feels like a light-year away. For eight weeks, these middle schoolers weren’t just reading about science; they were living it.

Through a mix of virtual workshops and hands-on sessions at the Cact.Us Design Center and TXRX Labs, students were paired with actual NASA engineers. They weren’t tasked with busywork; they were challenged to solve real-world problems of space habitation, including:

  • Lunar Water Filtration: Designing systems to purify water on the moon.
  • Space Habitats: Creating structures designed for food preservation in extreme environments.
  • Robotics: Developing rovers capable of navigating uneven lunar terrain.

The Power of Being Present

The program culminated in a private showcase at Space Center Houston this past December. Standing alongside retired NASA astronaut and Chief Science Officer Megan McArthur, Scott watched as HISD students presented high-fidelity prototypes. In that room, the disparity usually associated with these neighborhoods vanished, replaced by the technical language of CAD modeling and systems thinking.

But the work didn’t stop at the laboratory. The 6th Annual “Winter Wonderland Toy Drive” at Texas Southern University took place the very next day, showcasing the foundation’s dual-threat approach to philanthropy. While the STEM program looked toward the future, the toy drive took care of the present, putting smiles on the faces of thousands of Houston families with toys, groceries, and essential goods.

“Opportunities like this are being offered to help enrich our students’ lives and inspire them to pursue careers in fields where they can not only thrive but also bring back solutions to their communities.” — Travis Scott

More Than a Headline

Critics and social media skeptics often tweet that “Travis Scott is everywhere but Houston.” The data and the faces of the students at Space Center Houston suggest otherwise. While his music may be a global export, his legacy is being built brick by brick (and circuit by circuit) in HISD classrooms.

By bridging the gap between hip-hop culture and NASA’s high-tech corridors, the Cactus Jack Foundation is teaching us a vital lesson in giving forward. It’s not just about the gift under the tree in December; it’s about the skills, the confidence, and the “out of this world” opportunities provided in the months leading up to it.

Travis Scott may be a global icon, but in Houston, he’s becoming something much more important: a catalyst for the next generation of innovators.

Bell @TotallyRandie
Multi-Media Correspondent & Digital Creator
BlackPressUsa.Com/TotallyRandie.com /Stylemagazine.com

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