TELEVISION CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
- “30 Rock” (NBC)
- “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
- “Glee” (FOX)
- “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
- “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
- Daryl “Chill” Mitchell – “Brothers” (FOX)
- Donald Faison – “Scrubs” (NBC)
- Dulé Hill – “Psych” (USA Network)
- LaVan Davis – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
- Tyler James Williams – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
- America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
- Cassi Davis – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
- CCH Pounder – “Brothers” (FOX)
- Sherri Shepherd – “Sherri” (Lifetime)
- Tichina Arnold – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Lamman Rucker – “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” (TBS)
- Lance Gross – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
- Larenz Tate – “Rescue Me” (FX)
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Sherri” (Lifetime)
- Tracy Morgan – “30 Rock” (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Ana Ortiz – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
- Keshia Knight Pulliam – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
- Tisha Campbell-Martin – “Rita Rocks” (Lifetime)
- Vanessa Williams – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
- Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (CW)
Outstanding Drama Series
- “Cold Case” (CBS)
- “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
- “HawthoRNe” (TNT)
- “Lincoln Heights” (ABC Family)
- “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
- Anthony Anderson – “Law & Order” (NBC)
- Hill Harper – “CSI: NY” (CBS)
- LL Cool J – “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS)
- Laurence Fishburne – “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS)
- Taye Diggs – “Private Practice” (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
- Chandra Wilson – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
- Jada Pinkett Smith – “HawthoRNe” (TNT)
- Jill Scott – “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (HBO)
- Regina King – “Southland” (NBC)
- Sandra Oh – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Corey Reynolds – “The Closer” (TNT)
- Delroy Lindo – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC)
- James Pickens, Jr. – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
- Mekhi Phifer – “Lie To Me” (FOX)
- Rocky Carroll – “NCIS” (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Anika Noni Rose – “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (HBO)
- Audra McDonald – “Private Practice” (ABC)
- Gabrielle Union – “Flash Forward” (ABC)
- Jurnee Smollett – “Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
- S. Epatha Merkerson – “Law & Order” (NBC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
- “America” (Lifetime)
- “Brick City” (Sundance)
- “Georgia O’Keefe” (Lifetime)
- “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- “Relative Stranger” (Hallmark)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
- Cuba Gooding Jr. – “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- Eriq La Salle – “Relative Stranger” (Hallmark)
- Gus Hoffman – “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- Jaishon Fisher – “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- Philip Johnson – “America” (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
- Aunjanue Ellis – “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- Cicely Tyson – “Relative Stranger” (Hallmark)
- Kimberly Elise – “Gifted Hands” (TNT)
- Rosie O’Donnell – “America” (Lifetime)
- Ruby Dee – “America” (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
- Bryton James – “The Young and The Restless” (CBS)
- Cassius Willis – “The Young and The Restless” (CBS)
- Cornelius Smith, Jr. – “All My Children” (ABC)
- Terrell Tilford – “One Life To Live” (ABC)
- Texas Battle – “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
- Daphne Duplaix – “One Life to Live” (ABC)
- Debbi Morgan – “All My Children” (ABC)
- Eva Marcelle – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
- Tatyana Ali – “The Young and The Restless” (CBS)
- Tonya Lee Williams – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special)
- “Anderson Cooper 360: President Obama’s African Journey” (CNN)
- “CNN Presents: Reclaiming the Dream 2” (CNN)
- “The Inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States” (BET)
- “Judge Mathis” (Syndicated)
- “Leading Women: India.Arie, Dr. Maya Angelou” (Centric)
Outstanding Talk Series
- “Lopez Tonight” (TBS)
- “The Mo’Nique Show” (BET)
- “The Tyra Banks Show” (CW)
- “The View” (ABC)
- “The Wanda Sykes Show” (FOX)
Outstanding Reality Series
- “American Idol 8” (FOX)
- “America’s Next Top Model” (CW)
- “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC)
- “Extreme Makeover” (ABC)
- “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo)
Outstanding Variety – (Series or Special)
- “BET Awards 2009” (BET)
- “Bill Cosby: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor” (PBS)
- “Michael Jackson Memorial Service” (ABC, BET, CNN, MTV, NBC)
- “Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me” (HBO)
- “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” (HBO)
Outstanding Children’s Program
- “The Backyardigans – The Action Elves Save Christmas” (Nickelodeon)
- “Dora The Explorer: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” (Nickelodeon)
- “Go, Diego, Go: Diego Reunites Hippopotamus and Oxpecker” (Nickelodeon)
- “True Jackson, VP” (Nickelodeon)
- “Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie” (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children’s Program – (Series or Special)
- Caitlin Sanchez – “Dora the Explorer” (Nickelodeon)
- Keke Palmer – “True Jackson, VP” (Nickelodeon)
- LaShawn Jeffries – “The Backyardigans” (Nickelodeon)
- Nick Cannon – “TeenNick HALO Awards” (TeenNick)
- Selena Gomez – “Wizards of Waverly Place” (Disney Channel)
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist
- Jeremih (Def Jam)
- Keri Hilson (Mosley Music Group/Zone 4 Inc/Interscope Records)
- K’Jon (Universal Republic Records)
- Kristinia DeBarge (Def Jam)
- Melanie Fiona (SRC/Universal/Motown)
Outstanding Male Artist
- Anthony Hamilton (SoSo Def/Jive Records)
- Charlie Wilson (Jive Label Group)
- Jay-Z (Atlantic Records)
- Maxwell (Columbia Records)
- Ne-Yo (Def Jam)
Outstanding Female Artist
- Alicia Keys (Columbia Records)
- India.Arie (Universal Republic Records)
- Mary J. Blige (Matriarch/Geffen)
- Rihanna (Def Jam)
- Whitney Houston (Artista Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
- 3 Mo’ Divas (MariMo’ Music Inc.)
- The Black Eyed Peas (Interscope Records)
- Day26 (Bad Boy Records)
- Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (Atlantic Records)
- Jay-Z ft. Rihanna & Kanye West (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
- “Detroit” – Gerald Wilson Orchestra (Mack Avenue Records)
- “He and She” – Wynton Marsalis (Blue Note Records)
- “Kind of Brown” – Christian McBride & Inside Straight (Mack Avenue Records)
- “Poetically Justified” – Marcus Johnson (Three Keys Music)
- “The Real Thing” – Vanessa Williams (Concord Records)
Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)
- “A City Called Heaven” – Shirley Caesar (Light Records)
- “How I Got Over” – Vickie Winans (Destiny Joy)
- “Love Unstoppable” – Fred Hammond (Verity Records)
- “Still” – BeBe & CeCe Winans (B & C Records)
- “We Are All One: Live In Detroit” – Donnie McClurkin (Verity Records)
Outstanding World Music Album
- “11:11” – Rodrigo y Gabriela (ATO Records/Red)
- “Black President” – Sila and the Afrofunk Experience (Visila Records)
- “Morabeza” – Maria de Barros (Sheer Legacy [Sheer Group South African Label])
- “ReCreation” – Zap Mama (Heads Up International/Concord Music Group)
- “Seya” – Oumou Sangare (Nonesuch/World Circuit)
Outstanding Music Video
- “Blame It” – Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain (J Records/MBK Entertainment)
- “Boom Boom Pow” – The Black Eyed Peas (Interscope Records)
- “I Look To You” – Whitney Houston (Arista)
- “Pretty Wings” – Maxwell (Columbia Records)
- “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” – Alicia Keys (J Records/MBK Entertainment)
Outstanding Song
- “Bad Habits” – Maxwell (Columbia Records)
- “Blame It” – Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain (J Records/MBK Entertainment)
- “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (Atlantic Records)
- “God In Me” – Mary Mary (Columbia Records)
- “Pretty Wings” – Maxwell (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Album
- “The Blueprint 3” – Jay-Z (Atlantic Records)
- “BLACKsummers’night” – Maxwell (Columbia Records)
- “The Element of Freedom” – Alicia Keys (J Records/MBK Entertainment)
- “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” – Mariah Carey (Def Jam)
- “Stronger With Each Tear” – Mary J. Blige (Matriarch/Geffen)
LITERATURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
- “Basketball Jones” – E. Lynn Harris (deceased) (Doubleday)
- “Before I Forget” – Leonard Pitts, Jr. (Agate Bolden)
- “Life is Short But Wide” – J. California Cooper (Doubleday)
- “The Book of Night Women” – Marlon James Riverhead Books)
- “The Long Fall” – Walter Mosley (Riverhead Books)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
- “Brain Surgeon”: A Doctor’s Inspiring Encounters With Mortality and Miracles – Arnold Mann with Keith Black, MD (Grand Central Publishing)
- “Family Affair: What It Means to be African American Today” – Gil L. Robertson, IV (Agate Bolden)
- “Freedom in My Heart: Voices From the United States National Slavery Museum” – Cynthia Jacobs Carter (National Geographic Books)
- “In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past” – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Crown)
- “Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis” – Al Gore (Rodale Inc.)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
- “3rd Generation Country” – BeNeca Ward (Xlibris Corporation)
- “A Question of Freedom” – R. Dwayne Betts (Avery Books)
- “Black Water Rising” – Attica Locke (Harper)
- “Kiss the Sky: A Novel” – Farai Chideya (Atria Books)
- “Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange” – Amanda Smyth (Three Rivers Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Auto-Biography
- “Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud” – Dr. Cornel West (SmileyBooks)
- “Michelle Obama” – Deborah Willis (W. W. Norton)
- “POPS: A Life of Louis” – Terry Teachout (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- “Shooting Stars” – LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger (The Penguin Press)
- “Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne” – James Gavin (Atria Books)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
- “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man” – Steve Harvey (Amistad)
- “The Conversation: How Black Men & Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships” – Hill Harper (Gotham Books)
- “Down to Business” – Clara Villarosa with Alicia Villarosa (Avery Books)
- “Start Where You Are” – Chris Gardner (Amistad)
- “Your Money or Your Life” – Alvin Hall (Atria Books)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
- “Bicycles” – Nikki Giovanni (William Morrow)
- “Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry” – Camille Dungy (The University of Georgia Press)
- “Cooling Board: A Long-Playing Poem” – Mitchell L. H. Douglas (Red Hen Press)
- “Mixology: National Poetry Series” – Adrian Matejka (Penguin Group [USA])
- “Roses and Revolutions: The Selected Writings of Dudley Randall” – Melba Joyce Boyd (Wayne State University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
- “Child of the Civil Rights Movement” – Paula Young Shelton (Random House Children’s Books)
- “Negro Speaks of Rivers” – Langston Hughes (Author), E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) (Disney-Jump at the Sun/Disney Book Group)
- “Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change” – Michelle Cook (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
- “Peeny Butter Fudge” – Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
- “Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Toeshoe Trouble” – Whoopi Goldberg (Disney-Jump at the Sun/Disney Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
- “Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice” – Phillip Hoose (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Farrar Straus and Giroux)
- “Just Another Hero” – Sharon Draper (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
- “Mare’s War” – Tanita S. Davis (Random House Children’s Books)
- “Michelle Obama: Meet the First Lady” – David Bergen Brophy (Collins-An Imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books)
- “Rock and the River” – Kekla Magoon (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Motion Picture
- “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- “Invictus” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- “Michael Jackson’s: This Is It” (Columbia Pictures)
- “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
- Denzel Washington – “The Taking of Pelham 123” (Columbia Pictures)
- Idris Elba – “Obsessed” (Screen Gems)
- Jamie Foxx – “Law Abiding Citizen” (Overture Films)
- Morgan Freeman – “Invictus” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Quinton Aaron – “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
- Anika Noni Rose – “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
- Gabourey Sidibe – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- Sandra Bullock – “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Sophie Okonedo – “Skin” (Jour De Fete Films)
- Taraji P. Henson – “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
- Adam Rodriguez – “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” (Lionsgate)
- Anthony Mackie – “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
- Chiwetel Ejiofor – “2012” (Columbia Pictures)
- Danny Glover – “2012” (Columbia Pictures)
- Lenny Kravitz – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
- Alfre Woodard – “American Violet” (Universal Pictures)
- Mariah Carey – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- Mo’Nique – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- Paula Patton – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- Zoe Saldana – “Avatar” (Paramount Pictures)
**The nominees listed in the following categories were voted upon by Subcommittees.
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
- “American Violet” (Samuel Goldwyn Company)
- “Amreeka” (National Geographic Entertainment)
- “Endgame” (Montery Entertainment)
- “Medicine for Melancholy” (IFC Films)
- “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Foreign Motion Picture
- “The Maid” (Elephant Eye Films)
- “Rudo y Cursi” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- “Sin Nombre” (Focus Features)
- “Skin” (Jour De Fete Films)
- “The Stoning of Soraya M.” (Mpower Pictures)
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY
Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical or Television)
- “Capitalism: A Love Story” (Overture Films)
- “Crips and Bloods: Made in America” (Gravitas Ventures)
- “Crude” (First Run Features)
- “Good Hair” (Roadside Attractions)
- “More than a Game” (Lionsgate)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
- Alyson Fouse – “Brothers” – Meet Mike Trainor (FOX)
- Hallsted Sullivan with Warren Lieberstein – “The Office” – Café Disco (NBC)
- Kenny Smith – “The Game” – The Wedding (CW)
- Marc Willmore – “The Simpsons” – The Good, The Sad, & The Drugly (FOX)
- Saladin Patterson & James Roday – “Psych” – High Top Fade Out (USA Network)
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
- Alexander Woo – “True Blood” – Beyond Here Lies Nothin (HBO)
- Kathleen McGhee-Anderson – “Lincoln Heights” – Home Again (ABC Family)
- Sara Hess – “House” – The Greater Good (FOX)
- Shonda Rhimes – “Grey’s Anatomy” – What a Difference A Day Makes (ABC)
- Zoanne Clack – “Grey’s Anatomy” – Stand By Me (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)
- Anthony Peckham – “Invictus” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Geoffrey Fletcher – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- John Lee Hancock – “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Reggie Rock Bythewood and Cheo Hodari Coker – “Notorious” (Fox Searchlight)
- Tyler Perry – “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” (Lionsgate)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
- Ali LeRoi – “Everybody Hates Chris” – Everybody Hates The G.E.D. (CW)
- Justin Lin – “Community” – Introduction to Statistics (NBC)
- Ken Whittingham – “30 Rock” – The Funcooker (NBC)
- Michael Shultz – “Drop Dead Diva” – Second Chances (Lifetime)
- Reggie Hudlin – “The Office” – Koi Pond (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
- Chandra Wilson – “Grey’s Anatomy” – Give Peace a Chance (ABC)
- Edward James Olmos – “Battlestar Galactica” – Islanded in a Stream of Stars (Syfy)
- Ernest Dickerson – “Dexter” – Road Kill (Showtime)
- Kevin Sullivan – “Lincoln Heights” – Aftershock (ABC Family)
- Paris Barclay – “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” – Coup de Grace (CBS)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)
- F. Gary Gray – “Law Abiding Citizen” (Overture Films)
- George Tillman, Jr. – “Notorious” (Fox Searchlight)
- Lee Daniels – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
- Scott Sanders – “Black Dynamite” (Apparition)
- Spike Lee – “Passing Strange: The Movie” (IFC Films/Sundance Selects)