Colman Domingo and Shonda Rhimes are among the special honorees for the 2024 Black Reel Awards and set to accept prizes named for the late Chadwick Boseman and Diahann Caroll, respectively.
The annual Black Reel Awards, which salute the excellence of African Americans and the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora in the global entertainment industry, as assessed by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African Americans in Film’s (FAAAF) voting membership. Joining Domingo and Rhimes as special honorees are costume designer Ruth E. Carter, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Samuel L. Jackson.
The 24th annual Black Reel Awards will be broadcast on January 16, 2024, with this year’s film and TV honors ceremonies combined in a temporary change due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Domingo, who is already a two-time Black Reel Award winner, will accept the inaugural Chadwick Boseman Vanguard award for his performances in “Rustin” and “The Color Purple.” The Vanguard Award, which was first awarded in 2004, has been renamed in honor of the late Boseman, a move that aims to “immortalize both the recipient and memory of one of the most prolific actors of the African-American community,” a press release explained.
With TV and film honors being celebrated in the same ceremony, the awards committee created a prize to recognize outstanding work in television, which is named for Diahann Carroll, the first African American to star in a primetime network television drama. The new prize goes to Rhimes, who made history with her incredible run of ABC shows including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Station 19”; now, Rhimes’ Shondaland produces the hit “Bridgerton” series for Netflix.
“I am pleased to salute the lifelong accomplishments of our 2024 honorees,” stated Black Reel Award founder and CEO Tim Gordon. “However, I am most proud that our organization has taken the opportunity to honor the legacy left behind by a talent that seemed to be overlooked by others, Chadwick Boseman. The inclusion of his name along with the introduction of the Diahann Carroll award gives me great joy.”
Carter — whose stellar resume includes “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X,” as well as her Academy Award-winning work on the “Black Panther” films — will receive the Oscar Micheaux Memorial award, which recognizes the work of an industry executive.
The Sidney Poitier Trailblazer award, which recognizes the work of an outstanding actor, will be awarded to Jackson. The two-time Black Reel award-winner (and ten-time nominee) is saluted for his body of work, which most recently includes his Tony-nominated turn in “The Piano Lesson.”
The Ruby Dee Humanitarian award goes to “Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose work offs-stage and offscreen has been defined by continuously advocating for diversity and equality. Ralph is the creator of the DIVA Foundation and has been honored with the TV Humanitarian Award from the Creative Coalition, as well as the Project Angel Food legacy award for her activism in the HIV/AIDS community.
“Abbott Elementary” is among the most-nominated programs for the Black Reel’s TV honors, with 16 nominations. That tally follows closely behind the Peacock limited series “The Best Man: The Final Chapters” with 18 nods. FX’s “Atlanta” and Prime Video’s “Swarm” are tied with eighth. “Atlanta” creator Donald Glover leads the individual nominees with five nominations, with “Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson hot on his heels with three nominations (including one for guest hosting “Saturday Night Live”).
The film categories are yet to be announced.
