EVEN THE NEGROES LIKE HER

Christopher Nolan's box office blockbuster "The Dark Knight," was named best picture of 2008 by the African American Film Critics Assn. today. The Batman thriller also won in the best supporting actor category for the late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker.

Frank Langella was selected best actor as former President Nixon in "Frost/Nixon, and Angelina Jolie won best actress as a single mom trying to find her missing son in "Changling." Viola Davis earned best supporting actress for her turn as the mother of an altar boy in "Doubt."

Danny Boyle was named best director for the indie critics' darling, " Slumdog Millionaire."

The AAFCA, made up of African American media professionals across the U.S., also gave its Special Achievement Award to groundbreaking filmmaker Melvin van Peebles of "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" fame.