Yesterday, the NAACP Image Awards nominations were announced and 'The Great Debaters' led the pack with multiple nominations, but there were several omissions that makes me question the voters and the politics that come into play when it comes to awards and sponsorships and ratings.

Having seen 'Debaters' as well as EVERY other film, I can't see how Forest Whitaker ended up with a nomination! He was good, but he gave a better performance in 'Even Money'.

Marcus Carl Franklin should have taken his spot for he was amazing in the daring Bob Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There'.

Congrats on Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married?' for getting noms for Perry, Jill Scott, and Janet Jackson, BUT how in the world was Tasha Smith left off the list when she clearly stole and made the picture worth seeing.

The most glaring nomination went to 'A Mighty Heart' and its star Angelina Jolie. Here's a film that was good and well received, BUT received some controversy for casting Joliie in a role that should have gone to a black actress. There's no question that there are never enough leading roles for Black actresses, and 3 of the 5 nominees (Jurnee Smollett, Scott, and Taraji P. Henson) played SUPPORTING roles, NOT leading.

As far as the documentaries nominated, all were good except that 'Bastards of the Party' was only seen on TV (HBO). It didn't even make it to the theaters.

Did anyone see 'War/Dance'? That film is about three African children living in a displacement camp in northern Uganda who decide to compete in their country's national music and dance festival.

I hate to nitpick here and there about the nominating process and who was snubbed, but some of these folks and projects need to be recognized for the work they did and when the NAACP doesn't do so, who else will will?

Again, congrats on those who made the cut.

P.S Unless I'm wrong, and I hope so, don't bet against 'The Great Debaters'. Look for Oprah in the house!

THE 39th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS MOVIE NOMINATIONS

Motion Picture

"American Gangster" (Universal),"The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.), "I Am Legend" (Warner Bros.),"Talk To Me" (Focus Features),"Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" (Lionsgate Films)

Independent or Foreign Film

'A Mighty Heart' (Paramount Vantage),'Dirty Laundry' (Codeblack Entertainment),'Honeydripper' (Emerging Pictures),'My Brother' (Codeblack Entertainment),'Persepolis' (Sony Pictures Classics)

Actor in a Motion Picture

Columbus Short - "Stomp The Yard" (Screen Gems), Denzel Washington - "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.) Don Cheadle - "Talk To Me" (Focus Features), Terrence Howard - "Pride" (Lionsgate Films), Will Smith - "I Am Legend" (Warner Bros.)

Actress in a Motion Picture

Angelina Jolie - "A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage), Halle Berry - "Things We Lost In the Fire" (Dreamworks), Jill Scott - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" (Lionsgate Films), Jurnee Smollett - "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.), Taraji P. Henson - "Talk To Me" (Focus Features)

Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Chiwetel Ejiofor - "Talk To Me" (Focus Features), Denzel Whitaker - "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.), Forest Whitaker - "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.), Nate Parker - "The Great Debaters" (The Weinstein Co.), Tyler Perry - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" (Lionsgate Films)

Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Janet Jackson - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" (Lionsgate Films), Loretta Devine - "This Christmas" (Screen Gems), Meagan Good - "Stomp The Yard" (Screen Gems), Queen Latifah - "Hairspray" (New Line), Ruby Dee - "American Gangster" (Universal)

Documentary

"Bastards of the Party" (HBO), "Darfur Now" (Warner Independent Pictures), "Desert Bayou" (Cinema Libre Productions), "Price of Sugar" (Mitropolous Films), "Sicko" (The Weinstein Co.)