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Choose Roles of Integrity

        The 2005 Black Movie Awards last Wednesday celebrated movies of the past and present like "Crash," "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," "The Color Purple," and “Porgy and Bess."

        The event aired last week on Turner Network Television (TNT) and was hosted by Cedric “The Entertainer” at the Wilten Theatre in LA.

        Anthony Anderson received an Outstanding Actor Performance in a Supporting Role award; Terrence Howard received the Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role award; and Taraji Henson received her first award for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role, all for "Hustle & Flow."

        Kimberly Elise received a standing ovation as she took home the award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role for "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and the Rising Star of 2005 award.

        “I’m a woman of the next generation who has been privileged to follow trailblazers who fought for themselves and for us,” Elise said. “We [actors and actresses] need to choose our roles with integrity and stop being afraid to say ‘no’.”

        Tyler Perry also won an award for writing the "Diary of Mad Black Woman." Don Cheadle, Blair Underwood, Terrence Howard and Edward James Almos presented Sidney Poitier with the first Distinguished Career Achievement award for his achievements in film and for playing roles that didn’t perpetuate stereotypes of African Americans. The Bajan-born actor appeared in over 50 films including, “Lilies of the Field,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “The Defiant Ones.”

        Quincy Jones accepted an award for the producers of "The Color Purple," which was inducted in the Black Movie Award Classic Cinema Hall of Fame. A tearful Ruby Dee accepted an award on behalf of her late husband and actor Ossie Davis for his achievements in film and theater.

        Don Cheadle accepted the Outstanding Motion Picture award on behalf of the producers of the movie “Crash.”

        “We weren’t sure how people were going to respond to this movie,” said Cheadle. “This movie was made in order to provoke some thought about race issues and I’m glad that this movie allowed people to talk about stereotypes and race issues openly.”

        Other awards given out last Wednesday were Best Television Movie: ”Lackawanna Blues,”  HBO Director to Watch: Rodney Evan for “Brother to Brother,” and Outstanding Achievement in Directing: Thomas Carter for “Coach Carter.”