Bruce Springsteen has received a humanitarian award from an American race equality body in his home state of New Jersey.

The singer, who told about 150 people that he felt "empowered" by music when he was a youth, was among a dozen people honoured by the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for contributions to the community.

"Humanitarian is too big a word for what I do," he said as he accepted the Humanitarian Community Service Award.

'Ideals'

"I want my music to embody some of those same ideals," he said.

The 51-year-old performer has sold millions of records, often focusing on social issues.

The singer recently wrote a song about the death of a West African immigrant, shot by police in New York, prompting a threatened boycott of some of his concerts by police officers.

His song American Skin, based on the shooting of 22-year-old Amadou Diallo, was condemned by police for inflaming the situation in New York.

The song contained the line: "You can get killed just for living in your American skin."

The policemen involved, who said they believed Mr Diallo was pulling out a gun when in fact it was his wallet, were acquitted on charges of murder in February.

Mr Diallo's mother has reportedly thanked Springsteen for remembering her son.