Last June, Jay-Zās mother, Gloria Carter, opened up on her sonās album 4:44 about her fears, her family, and finally her freedom to live openly as a lesbian in a poem included in the song āSmile.ā She wrote in part, āBut life is short and itās time to be free / Love who you love, because life isnāt guaranteed.ā This weekend, Gloria accepted a Special Recognition Award for both āinspiring and contributing toā the song while at the 29th GLAAD Media Awards in New York.
Carter said in part, āāSmileā became a reality because I shared with my son who I am. Not that people didnāt know; I was just someone they didnāt talk about but they loved me anyway. But for me, this was the first time that I spoke to anyone about who I really am.ā She concluded, āHere I am. Iām loving. Iām respectful. Iām productive and Iām a human being who has a right to love who I love. So everybody, just smile. Be free.ā