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2022 NAACP Image Awards: 5 ‘Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture’ Winners Whose Stories Moved Us

The writing in these films impacted us in ways we never imaged

In recent years, the way audience members view television and film has transformed. Certain narratives about a particular group of people are no longer accepted, and viewers have often been very vocal about what they expect to see, hear, and even feel from the content they digest.  Although much work is still to be done, those who have stepped up to the challenge haven’t disappointed yet.

We are still a few weeks before the 53rd Annual NAACP Image Awards is set to take place but our excitement couldn’t be any greater. However, before we can honor those who contributed the plethora of unique content created last year, let’s look back at some of the winners of the “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture” award from past ceremonies.

  • Creed

    Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington took home the 2016 award for the “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture in Creed starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Tessa Thompson, amongst others. The film themes surround family, honing into the father and son relationship. This film has won 44 awards and has been part of 65 nominations.

  • Get Out

    In 2018, Jordan Peele took home the award for “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture” for his Academy-Award-winning thriller horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, and LaKeith Stanfield, and Lil Rel Howery. The movie’s themes including racism, trauma and its vivid imergy and symbolism made it the topic of discussion and think pieces for quite sometime following its release in Feb. 2017.

  • Black Panther

    Ryan Coogler did it once again, this time with Joe Robert Cole along his side in creating Marvel’s Black Panther and receiving the award for “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture” during the 2019 NAACP Image Awards. Starring the late Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o, the film ventures into the themes of legacy, isolationism, and racial warfare adapted from the comic books written by no other than Spike Lee.

  • Precious

    Geoffrey S. Fletcher was awarded the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture” for his incredible writing in Precious. Starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, and Mariah Carey, the film explores various themes, including race, gender, sexuality, and poverty. Although it is a heavy film to watch, it has received 75 awards out of 135 nominations.

  • Moonlight

    The history-making film from Berry Jenkins based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, blew audiences away with the coming-of-age story which showed the journey through three stages in the life of the main character: his childhood, adolescence, and early adult life as he struggles with sexuality and identity including the physical and emotional abuse he endured.

    Moonlight packed with firsts, including becoming the first LGBTQ film and first film with an all-black cast to win the Oscar for “Best Picture”.

    Watch the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 8/9c.

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