For over 40 years, the NAACP Image Awards have been, in their words, a multi-cultural awards show from an African American point of view. They hand out honors for African American representation in film, television, music, and literature, and among their TV awards are categories for Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Daytime Drama. Hey! What a coincidence -- we LOVE actors and actresses in daytime dramas!

So who did the Image Awards voters love on the soaps? Well, The Young and the Restless, for one thing. Y&R has a longstanding reputation for strong storylines featuring its African American characters, so it's no surprise that the show snagged five nominations across the two categories. Bryton James (Devon) and Cassius Willis (Detective Gil) were nominated for Outstanding Actor, and Eva Marcille (Tyra), Tatyana Ali (Roxanne), and Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia) were nominated for Outstanding Actress.

Other performers who got Image Award love were Debbi Morgan and Cornelius Smith, Jr. (Angie and Frankie on All My Children), Texas Battle (Marcus on The Bold and the Beautiful) and Terrell Tilford and Daphne Duplaix (Greg and Rachel on One Life to Live). "It's an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as the NAACP," exclaims Duplaix. "Every actor works towards opportunities like these, I couldn't be happier." Tilford adds, "I am honored to be recognized by the NAACP Nominating Committee. It's a pleasure to have the work that I love doing acknowledged. What an incredible blessing with which to start the New Year."

The Image Awards, to be televised on Fox, will be handed out on Friday, February 26th. What do you think of the nominees? Any of your favorites get snubbed? Sound off in the comments below!

Photo Source: ABC