Harry and Meghan to be honored by the NAACP for social justice work

Los Angeles, California - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will receive a top accolade at the NAACP Image Awards for heeding the call to social justice and joining the struggle for equity around the world.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will receive the NAACP's President's Award.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will receive the NAACP's President's Award.  © IMAGO / Future Image

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were named as recipients of the prestigious President's Award, which recognizes special achievement and distinguished public service.

The couple, who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020, said in a joint statement that it was a "true honor".

They added that the efforts by US civil rights organization the NAACP on racial justice were as "vital" today as they were more than a hundred years ago when it was founded.

Past recipients of the President's Award include Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, LeBron James, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Lauryn Hill.

The NAACP's Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and performances of Black and minority ethnic people in the arts.

Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, said: "We're thrilled to present this award to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who together have heeded the call to social justice and have joined the struggle for equity both in the US and around the world."

Sussexes sponsor new NAACP award

Dr. Safiya Noble will be the first recipient of the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award.
Dr. Safiya Noble will be the first recipient of the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award.  © Screenshot/Instagram/Safiya Umoja Noble

The Sussexes' Archewell Foundation is supporting a new NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which recognizes leaders creating "transformational change at the intersection of social justice and technology".

Derrick Johnson added: "Not only do they continue to lead by example, the duke and duchess have also decided to inspire the next generation of activists through the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, ensuring the support and recognition of generations of civil rights leaders to come."

This inaugural recipient is author and scholar Dr. Safiya Noble, who has pioneered the study of how digital technologies intersect with culture, race, and gender.

She will receive a $100,000 unrestricted stipend to help advance new work in the field.

Harry and Meghan said in a joint statement: "It's a true honor to be recognized by President Derrick Johnson and the NAACP, whose efforts to propel racial justice and civil rights are as vital today as they were nearly 115 years ago."

"We're proud to support the NAACP's work and to also partner with the organization on the newly created annual NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which will be bestowed to Dr Safiya Noble as part of the 53rd NAACP Image Awards."

The 53rd NAACP Image Awards will be held Saturday, starting 8 PM EST.

Cover photo: IMAGO / Future Image

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