The Wayans Family Is Inducted into NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame: Our Parents 'Would Be Very, Very Happy’

Mar. 15, 2025

Craig, Damon and Marlon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. at the NAACP Awards Hall of Fame Awards on Feb. 22.Photo:Robin L Marshall/Getty

Robin L Marshall/Getty

The Wayans family is being honored in a very special way!

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the talented family attended the 56thNAACP Image Awardwhere they were inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the ceremony, Damon, 64, said of receiving the honor, “I think my parents would be very, very happy for us. And they know that without them, there’d be no us and they would really take all the credit.”

Outside of working together, Damon shared with PEOPLE that he is blessed to have his family’s continuous love and support for each other.

“Beyond working together, it’s the community that we have, when you’re going through something, you have a squad that’s going through the same things, and as I overcome those things,” he said.

“Like, when you trip and ready to jump off a building, you know, it’s like, ‘Come here, come back here. It’s not that serious.’ So, I think that that has been the greatest asset I’ve had in my life, is having family in the business, that the business that doesn’t let me, you know, trip.”

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Kim Wayans, Marlon, Damon Wayans, Damon Jr. and Damien Dante Wayans speak accept the NAACP Awards Hall of Fame award on Feb. 22.Monica Schipper/Getty

Monica Schipper/Getty

Anannouncement about the honoron Instagram read, “For generations, the Wayans have been THAT FAMILY — brilliant, fearless, and unapologetically Black! They didn’t just make us laugh; they shook the industry, redefined comedy, and paved the way for so many to follow.”

“In Living Color, Major Payne,My Wife & Kids,Scary Movie,White Chicks,Poppa’s House… No one does it like the Wayans!” the caption added. “It’s time to give flowers to a family of trailblazers who have left an undeniable mark on the culture and the world! 💐👏🏾”

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The Wayans family join other past NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame inductees includingEddie Murphy,Oprah Winfrey,Stevie Wonder,Aretha FranklinandSpike Lee.

Damien, Marlon, Damon and Kim Wayans pose in the Trophy Lounge with their Image Awards at the 56th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22.Leon Bennett/Getty

Leon Bennett/Getty

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO, said in apress release, “For decades, the Wayans family has been at the forefront of comedy, breaking barriers and opening doors for waves of entertainers."

“Their trailblazing work in television, film, and stand-up has transcended pop culture and cemented their legacy in the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame," he added. “Recognizing their achievements with this induction is a celebration of a multi-generational legacy that continues to advance and uplift communities.”

Johnson concluded, “The Wayans family has set a standard of excellence, and their influence resonates far beyond the stage and screen.”

source: people.com