Deon Cole doesn’t have an elaborate hosting pre-show ritual to settle his nerves. Instead, the actor and comedian is relying on practice and stage rehearsals to host the 57th NAACP Image Awards. It’s his second time at the mic.
“I do as many reps as possible by getting on the stage, working out the material and seeing what works and doesn’t,” he told EBONY ahead of the awards ceremony on February 25. “I tighten it up and get it together to make sure the material connects with love and purpose. I then go out there and do what we do.”
When he returns onstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, Cole is ready to raise the bar by delivering even bigger laughs and a joyous celebration of Black culture.
“We’re going to amp it up even more,” he said. “They asked me back for a reason. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But we are going to enhance it, and it’s going to be something else. It’s going to be good, and we’re going to take some more chances. You don’t know until you know. And we’re going to find out.”
This year’s Image Awards theme, “We See You,” recognizes and honors Black voices and talent that shape culture beyond our community across film, television, music, and literature. The ceremony’s theme resonates personally with Cole as he reflects on the moments that defined his career. “Every chapter in my career has led me to another chapter,” he said. “From the smallest to the biggest, they all were important.”
With a three-decade stint in the entertainment industry, the entertainer shared that his peers, from the early stages to now, have made him feel seen throughout his career.
“I remember being on Def Comedy Jam for the first time as much as doing The Color Purple,” he shared. “It all meant that much to me while it happened. Focusing on the now is what’s important. I can plan for the future —and I do — but now makes the future.”
In an awards landscape where Black creatives often go unrecognized for their contributions to Hollywood and beyond, Cole emphasized the necessity of the NAACP Image Awards and the platform it provides to amplify Black storytelling across mediums.
“The NAACP Image Awards shine a light on people who normally wouldn’t have a light shined on them,” he said. “There are a lot of award shows, but are there a lot of us? Absolutely not. And we are worthy. Therefore, we shine light on our own, give them praise and honor them to give them the confidence to keep going.”
Cole also acknowledged the importance of validating the work and talent of Black creatives. “We have to let them know that they are being seen and we appreciate them. It’s very important to have this night. This night is bigger than the awards. It’s about confidence. It’s about that seatfiller with a dream going, ‘I’m going to be up there one day.’”
With less than 24 hours until showtime, Cole’s focus remains clear: creating a joyous atmosphere that lingers after the final award is handed out. “I want everyone to leave thinking it was an amazing, important night and to want to come back again. We want the show to be a frequency that you feel. That’s what I’m hoping for. It happened that way last year. For us to amp it up this year and have it happen, it’s going to be good.”
The 57th NAACP Image Awards live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, at 8 pm ET/PT on BET and CBS.