As a father of four, Denzel Washington tells his kids that the world can be an imperfect place - but advises them not to be brought down by the imperfections.

“I try to teach my children there are going to be obstacles,” Washington, 53, said on Monday’s Early Show, about his remembrances of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Someone may not like you just because they don’t like themselves. But, don’t you get bogged down.”

Washington, who played civil-rights icon Malcolm X in the 1992 movie, says that when he was growing up, his family talked about King, Jr. and the 1960s civil rights movement.

“My father was a minister in the Church of God and Christ,” said Washington is stars in the current movie, The Great Debaters. “There was talk of this other guy, Malcolm X, that was not allowed to somehow be talked about. And of course, there was Martin Luther King.”

No debate: Denzel Washington’s film The Great Debaters won hands down Thursday at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards.

The period drama about a debating squad that takes on Harvard was named best film of 2007, and Washington also was honored as best actor. His costar Jurnee Smollett was cited as best actress.

“I’m happy for everybody up here,” Washington, who directed the film, said while accepting the award at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium. “I’m very grateful for this one, but in particular, just happy that some of these young people are recognized for their work.”

this.”

Chandra Wilson Honored

In television categories, Grey’s Anatomy was named outstanding drama series, and its star Chandra Wilson picked up a trophy for outstanding actress in a drama series. Costar Kate Walsh was on hand to support Wilson at the ceremony.

And Ugly Betty’s stars America Ferrera and Vanessa L. Williams won outstanding actress and supporting actress in a comedy series, respectively.

Denzel Washington, director and star of the Golden Globe-nominated The Great Debaters, is donating $1 million to Wiley College to re-establish the debate team portrayed in the film.

Washington plays educator and poet Melvin Tolson, who mentored the all-black college’s elite debate squad in the 1930s. During an appearance in Marshall, Tex., last week, Washington, 52, said he would like to see the team brought back.

-Karen Salkin