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Kanye West and Kerry Washington NAACP Image Award Wins (Getty Images)

Kanye West and Kerry Washington NAACP Image Award Wins (Getty Images)

Many are hoping that Selma director Ava DuVernay, who was passed over for an Oscar nomination this year, will win Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture at the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, Calif. If DuVernay wins an Image Award, she will join a list of talented African Americans who received love from their own community after being passed over by mainstream awards groups.

In yet another instance, Spike Lee, who won a 2007 Image Award for directing Inside Man (and will be given a President’s Award in 2015) has never won an Academy Award for directing or Best Picture.

Here, NewsOne highlights 10 talented African Americans who won at the Image Awards after the hardware eluded their grasps at mainstream awards shows.

Tune in to the 46th NAACP Image Awards on TV ONE: February 6, 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST, with the red carpet coverage starting at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST!

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Kerry Washington

The first African American woman nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 18 years, Kerry Washington received Primetime Emmy nods in 2013 and 2014 for her smoldering, emotive portrayal of flawless “bawse” Olivia Pope on ABC’s Scandal.

Alas, the Emmy Went To: Claire Danes for Homeland in 2013; Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife in 2014.

And The Image Awards Went To: Kerry Washington, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series award for Scandal in 2013 and 2014; also, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Django Unchained in 2013 as well.

 

Denzel Washington

Washington is thespian royalty in our community, but his amazing gifts have not always been recognized by mainstream awards shows. Twice Washington has been snubbed by the Academy — some say for his most empowering roles (though it should be noted that he does have two Oscars.) The statuette eluded his grasp when he was nominated as Best Actor for Malcolm X in 1992, and for Flight, the heroic action thriller, ten years later.

Alas, the Oscars Went To: Al Pacino for Scent Of A Woman in 1992; Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln in 2012.

And The Image Awards Went To: Denzel Washington, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture, Malcolm X, 1994 and for Flight in 2013.

 

Viola Davis 

Although she is slaying TV screens the world over as the face of the runaway primetime TV series, How To Get Away With Murder, Davis has seen a snub or two in her illustrious career. To wit: a Golden Globe failed to materialize after she was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress, Drama, for The Help, where she played the stoic, lead character Aibileen.

Alas, the Golden Globe Went To: Meryl Streep, for The Iron Lady

And The Image Award Went To: Viola Davis, Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture for The Help, 2012

 

Gabourey Sidibe

Sidibe crashed right into our collective consciousness with her debut portrayal of the abused, resilient, and hauntingly brave, Claireece “Precious” Jones, the lead character in the movie Precious, based on the novel, Push. Her first time out of the gate, Sidibe was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar in 2009

Alas, the Oscar Went To: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

And The Image Award Went To: Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture, 2010

 

Chris Brown

Whatever you may feel about Brown’s messy personal life, there is no denying the boy has talent in spades. In 2006, he was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy, for his smashing debut, Chris Brown which contained the hit single, “Run It.”

Alas, the Grammy Went To: Carrie Underwood

And The Image Award Went To: Chris Brown, Outstanding New Artist in 2007.

 

Kanye West

‘Ye was a breath of fresh air when he hit the saturated rap scene in 2004 with his soaring, boombastic debut album, The College Dropout. Although he did win a few Grammys in 2005, including Best Rap Album, he did not get the win for Best New Artist.

Alas, the Grammy Went To: Maroon 5

And the Image Award Went To: Kanye West, Outstanding New Artist in 2005.

 

Angela Bassett

Bassett has long been a beloved mainstay in black Hollywood, and has been recognized accordingly — with 11 NAACP Image Award wins. However, she never has taken home an Oscar. For her riveting portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, Bassett won a Golden Globe for Outstanding Actress, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Alas, the Oscar Went To: Holly Hunter in The Piano

And The Image Award Went To: Angela Bassett, for Outstanding Actress in A Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for What’s Love Got To Do With It, 1995

 

Alfre Woodard

Known as an actor’s actor, who began her life in the theater, Woodard’s three-plus decades in the business are a study in top-notch artistry. Woodard has won a slew of awards in her day, including four Emmys. She also has been nominated for a Grammy, as well as getting a 1983 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Geechee in Cross Creek, opposite Mary Steenburgen.

Alas, the Oscar Went To: Linda Hunt for The Year Of Living Dangerously

And The Image Award Went To: Alfre Woodard, Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture for Cross Creek, 1984

 

Diahann Carroll

Brushing against the genre of “Blaxploitation” films that so prevalent in the 1970s, Carroll brought a sweet humanity to the starring role of Claudine, a love story about a single mother on welfare. For that, she was nominated for Best Actress for the 1974 Academy Awards.

Alas, the Oscar Went To: Ellen Burstyn for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

And The Image Award Goes To: Diahann Carroll, Outstanding Actress in A Motion Picture for Claudine, 1975

 

Diana Ross

Miss Ross segued brilliantly from pop star to screen siren with her haunting portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings The Blues. She was nominated as Best Actress for the role at the 45thAcademy Awards in 1972. A few years later she had this to say about her groundbreaking portrayal: “I was a trailblazer. My generation was able to lead the way for the young girls today to be able to make fine movies that will be classic films that will be out there forever.”

Alas, the Oscar Went To: Liza Minnelli for Cabaret

And The Image Award Went To: Diana Ross, for Outstanding Actress in A Motion Picture for Lady Sings The Blues, 1972

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Tune in to the 46th NAACP Image Awards on TV ONE: February 6, 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST, with the red carpet coverage starting at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST!