And LaVan Davis of "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" won for actor in a comedy series.

Both directly addressed Perry, who sat in the audience, and thanked him for believing in them.

"Some said that I couldn't. You said that 'I want him,'" Davis said. "NAACP, thank you for having an award ceremony that I can win."

"The Great Debaters," a film based on the real-life victories of a black debating team in the 1930s, was the night's leading nominee with eight nods.

Teenage actor Denzel Whitaker took home the prize for supporting actor in a motion picture, for his role as a member of the debate team.

Other best-picture nominees: "American Gangster," "I Am Legend," "Talk to Me" and "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"

"Girlfriends" and "Everybody Hates Chris" led TV nominees.