Today, the NAACP has announced that Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant will receive the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award during the 57th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors, set for February 26 in Los Angeles.
The honor recognizes leaders whose work advances civil rights and strengthens communities. Past recipients include attorney Benjamin Crump, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, organizer Jotaka Eaddy, and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams.
“The NAACP Image Awards is proud to honor Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, whose leadership is rooted in scholarship, action, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice,” said Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors. “Through his dedication to service, he has challenged systemic inequities across the country and advocated for communities that are too often overlooked. We are honored to present the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award to a leader who inspires us to confront injustice, uplift unheard voices, and lead with faith and conviction.”
Bryant, a pastor and longtime organizer, has built a national profile through faith-based leadership and direct action campaigns focused on economic fairness. His recent work with the Target FAST initiative placed him at the center of one of the largest Black-led consumer accountability efforts in decades. The campaign pressed major corporations to address supplier diversity and business practices that affect Black communities. Bryant has framed economic pressure as a practical tool for change, pointing to the historic role of boycotts in the Civil Rights Movement.
A third-generation minister, Bryant first gained attention in Baltimore, where he founded Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation grew quickly and became one of the largest in the denomination’s history. Since 2018, he has served as senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia. Alongside his wife, Dr. Karrianna Bryant, he has expanded the church’s outreach, focusing on policy issues, local organizing, and support for families.
Before entering the pulpit full time, Bryant spent six years with the NAACP as its National Youth and College Director. In that role, he helped mobilize tens of thousands of young people for voter engagement drives and nonviolent campaigns. The work established his reputation as a strategist and coalition builder. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The award will be presented during Image Awards week, which includes several events across Los Angeles. Programming begins February 23 with the Celebrity Golf Invitational at El Caballero Country Club. That evening also marks the start of a three-night virtual awards presentation recognizing winners in non-televised categories.
On February 24, NAACP+ Studios will host a short film showcase featuring emerging filmmakers and projects centered on community and social impact. The following day, the NAACP Hollywood Symposium will bring together actors, executives, and creators for discussions about longevity in the industry and new production models.
Creative Honors take place February 26, where Bryant will be recognized alongside winners in select categories. A fashion reception and show follows on the 27th, celebrating Black designers and style leaders. The week concludes February 28 with the televised ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, airing on BET and CBS, and a youth-focused brunch on March 1 highlighting organizing and civic engagement.
Bryant’s recognition places his work within the Image Awards’ broader mission of honoring those who use their platforms to serve the public and push for lasting change.
“Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant’s influence stretches across culture, economic accountability, and activism, reshaping how communities organize and demand change in real time. The NAACP honoring him with the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award acknowledges his advocacy, vision, and courage to advance meaningful change,” said Connie Orlando, Executive Vice President of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.