Hosted by comedian Deon Cole, the ceremony celebrated some of the biggest names in Black entertainment.
Jordan thanked his father - absent from the event - for grounding him in Black history and giving him the confidence to know exactly who he is.
The Oscar nominee also won best actor in a motion picture, dedicating the honour to his late Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman.
Sinners also secured best motion picture, cementing a major night for the film.
The Image Awards, presented by the 117-year-old NAACP, are the premier celebration of Black artists and storytellers in Hollywood.
In one of the evening's highlights, Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo addressed the incident at last week's BAFTA awards, when a guest with Tourette syndrome shouted the N-word as Lindo and Jordan presented an award.
"We appreciate all the support and love that we have been shown," Lindo said, calling it "a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive".
Music greats Salt-N-Pepa - Cheryl "Salt" James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton and DJ Spinderella - were inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame.
"We didn't know we were building a movement," Spinderella told the audience.
"But looking back, we changed what women in hip-hop were allowed to be."
Their induction places them among icons including Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Viola Davis, honoured with the chairman's award, delivered one of the night's most resonant speeches.
"I'm still learning how to step into the feeling that I deserve moments like this," said Davis, who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony Award.
She reflected on growing up "a little chocolate girl with thick lips and a wide nose" in 1965 Rhode Island - and how chasing success once felt synonymous with chasing significance.
"That is a hero's journey," she said.
Davis used her platform to call for unity and collective remembrance.
"There is no soul of a nation without the soul of its people - not just those breathing in this room, but those who are no longer here," she said.
"We move forward together, or not at all."
Colman Domingo, recipient of the president's award, credited his stepfather for teaching him to think deeply, act with purpose, and aspire to do good.
"I carry that message with me in every man I portray," the Euphoria star said.
"I want to make sure they look just like us - in all of our complexity."
