Sinners, which recently made Oscars history as its most-nominated film ever, also did well at the NAACP Awards. Coogler’s film took home 13 trophies out of 18 nominations, including best picture, best actor (Jordan), and outstanding breakthrough for Miles Caton.
Its accomplishments—as well as the BAFTAs incident—were also acknowledged throughout the ceremony. Regina Hall, who starred in Sinners‘ toughest Oscars competition, One Battle After Another, paused before presenting the night’s first award to address Lindo and Jordan. “I’d like to take a moment to thank the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class,” she said, looking straight at the seated stars.
Quinta Brunson, who won best actress in a comedy series for her self-created role in Abbott Elementary, also gave a nod to Coogler’s film in her acceptance speech. “I have to do a quick shout-out to the cast of Sinners,” she said. “We see you, we’re behind you. The crew of Sinners, we support you and we love you.”
The ceremony came just hours after confirmation that a joint US and Israeli attack had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While that war didn’t come up in the ceremony, politics remained a mainstay, with Cole saying “I don’t want to see no ICE ever again,” before appearing to say a bleeped “Fuck ICE.”
Sterling K. Brown, who won best drama actor for Paradise, didn’t mince any words. “We are living under an administration that has an attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, is trying to erase critical race theory but they can’t erase us because, as [previous presenter Samuel L. Jackson] said, ‘There’s no America without us.'”
Viola Davis, who accepted the NAACP’s prestigious Chairman’s prize, also presented a message of hope, as well as a call for unity. “There is no becoming without healing and without a radical acceptance of one’s truth,” she said. “We either move forward together or not at all.”