The National Geographic/Disney+ series “Genius: MLK/X”, executive produced by Clemson University World Cinema Professor of Practice Sam Sokolow, has earned seven nominations for the 2025 NAACP Image Awards.
“It’s a team sport so I’m super happy for everyone on the team — from the directors to the production assistants, the crew, the cast, the network executives — everyone who pours their heart and soul into the work,” Sokolow said. “It’s also humbling because there’s so much great work out there and these types of moments don’t happen every day.”
“Genius: MLK/X” earned nominations for:
- Outstanding Limited Television Series, Special or Movie
- Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television Series, Special or Movie – Kelvin Harrison Jr.
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television Series, Special or Movie – Ron Cephas Jones
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television Series, Special or Movie – Jayme Lawson
- Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series (2 nominations) – Marta Cunningham for episodes “Protect Us” and “Who We Are”
- Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album – “Genius: MLK/X” Songs from the Original Series (Hollywood Records)
“We all do this work because we love telling stories that can affect an audience. That’s the true reward,” Sokolow said. “But, of course, when a project you’re a part of gets this type of acknowledgment, it’s an incredible feeling.”

“Genius: MLK/X” is the fourth season in National Geographic’s “Genius” series, a biographical scripted drama anthology series, which chronicles the lives of groundbreaking scholars, artists and leaders. Released in February 2024, “Genius MLK/X” follows the parallel lives of Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. (played by Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). Nominees Ron Cephas Jones and Jayme Lawson portrayed Elijah Muhammad and Betty Shabazz, respectively.
Previous seasons told the stories of Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin. The series has won 2 Primetime Emmy Awards while being nominated 20 times, and has also received nominations for Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards and others. Sokolow, who has been a part of the series from its inception, executive produced the fourth season alongside Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ron Howard, and Brian Grazer.
“I started with Walter Isaacson’s book Einstein: His Life and Universe, which we got the film and TV rights to,” Sokolow explained. “I had the vision for the series and then had to bring it to life.” After a number of years developing the script for television, he succeeded in attracting film icon Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cocoon, A Beautiful Mind, Hillbilly Elegy) to direct the series pilot.
Sokolow joined the Clemson World Cinema faculty in 2024 with an eye toward expanding the program and teaching the practical skills of film production.
“Genius” is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
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