Jay-Z made sure to thank the women in his life as he accepted the President’s Award at the 2019 NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night.
In a night full of Black Excellence, Jay-Z was one of the highlights as he was recognized for “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.“ And in accepting the honor, the rapper and mogul said that it was the women in his life —especially his 93-year-old grandmother Hattie White — that have helped him get to where he is today.
“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,” Jay-Z said of his grandmother, to whom he dedicated the award. “On top of that, her kids had kids and we all were raised in the same house. One household.”
“I grew up knowing that I could accomplish anything because of those strong women in my house,” he also said while thanking his mother Gloria Carter. “I would like to dedicate this award to those beautiful women.”
But he also knew that he could not complete his speech without thanking his wife Beyonce, who was a vision in a white suit.
“I’d like to dedicate this award to a beautiful woman in my life, Ms. Beyoncé…just because of the white suit,” he told his wife, who smiled on adoringly.
Beyonce herself was awarded Entertainer of The Year on a night that saw the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chadwick Boseman, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Michael B. Jordan, Sterling K. Brown, Chris Rock, and Yara Shahidi among others in the audience.
Bey made sure to individually thank all the nominees in her category like Regina King, Chadwick Boseman, Ryan Coogler and Lebron James.
Congratulations to all the winners!
