Jay Z Dedicates His NAACP President's Award To His 93 Year Old Grandmother

Jay Z praised some special people in his life while accepting the NAACP President’s Award.

Jigga was honored at the2019 NAACP Image Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Saturday night with a special award. NAACP President Derrick Johnson described the purpose of the award in a statement on Thursday.

“The President’s Award is an honor we carefully bestow upon an individual, maintaining its significance and commitment to recognizing excellence in service that directly affects our community,” he said. “Shawn Carter has been committed to shedding light on the issues that plague the black community including systematic racism and unjust treatment under the law, utilizing his global platform to create everlasting change.”

Johnson added, “There is no better time than now, as we celebrate our 50th year, to honor him with this award.”

The NAACP president and CEO introduced Jay-Z before handing him the trophy and described him as someone who has “changed the very fabric of culture of America.”

After praising Jay-Z’s many accolades, including winning 22 Grammys and being a brilliant businessman, Johnson talked about why giving him this award was so timely and relevant. “But for us at this critical time in our history he has become a driving force as a founding partner of the reform new initiative dedicated to changing the unfair and unjust laws for the millions of Americans currently on parole and probation,” he said.

Jay Z quoted President Lincoln in his speech, “Abraham Lincoln had a quote that said, ‘It’s not the amount of years in your life, it’s the amount of life in your years that count in the end.'”

Also dedicating his award to his 93 year old grandmother, “embodied my beautiful grandmother who I would like to dedicate this award to, Hattie White.”

“She is so full of life and she among other accomplishments, being super great and very tough, she raised seven kids, one little walk up in Brooklyn. 615 Lexington, started my life,” he said of his grandmother. “On top of that, her kids had kids and we all were raised in the same house. One household.”

Jay’s 93-year-old grandma is full of energy and he explains that he spoke with her recently and completely changed his speech after doing so. Jay-Z told the audience that he asked how much money his grandma made and she told him “$20 a week. It was fine. You could do a lot with $20 in those days.” He mentioned his mom, Gloria Carter, and said, “ I grew up knowing that I could accomplish anything because of those strong women in my house. I would like to dedicate this award to those beautiful women. “

No speech, however, would be complete without calling out his wife Beyoncé. “I’d like to dedicate this award to a beautiful woman in my life, Ms. Beyoncé.”Jay finished off his speech, “Thank you to the NAACP for allowing me to forward this so she can put it on her mantle next to her favorite grandson. And then when she’s sneaking pork and her legs swell up, she can remember how much of a G she is.”

According2HipHop

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Jay Z Dedicates His NAACP President’s Award To His 93 Year Old Grandmother

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