00:00So this song we're about to sing is called Cool People, and you remind us that there's still cool people in the world, so thank you.
00:08I hope you like it.
00:11But we're just so happy to be here for you, Miss. We love you, we love you, we love you.
00:16If you all don't know, she is a queen in her own right, and she is strong and fearless, and I love her, and she is everything to our heart.
01:30Oh, oh, oh, oh
01:35But in the moment it just reminds me of
01:41There's still cool people in the world
01:46Hear me far away
01:52I'm done with yesterday
01:57I'm living for today
02:03Hey, hey, hey
02:06So now I've been put on the regular
02:09I've seen things even clearer
02:12These new days I've lifted up
02:15Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
02:20Cause the storm with a smile looks like the rain dries out
02:26Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
02:29Now there's no more room for girls
02:33Won't be singing hallelujah
02:36Hall chant
02:39Oh, oh, oh
02:41Oh, oh, oh, oh
02:43Oh, oh, oh, oh
02:44Oh, oh, oh
02:45And it just reminds me of
02:49There's still cold people in the world
02:52I've never known the life that's before
02:58I let cold and I run and we run up the river
03:03You hold me fly, you give me life
03:09You hold me, I, I, I
03:18A storm with a smile that's like the rage of love
03:25Now there's no room for good love
03:31Gonna sing all the blue
03:36All the blue
03:38When you hold my hand, it just reminds me of
03:48There's still cold people in the world
03:53We love you so much, we sing that
03:56As a Haitian port beacon from Brooklyn
04:07Whatever that is
04:09It's a cafe
04:11How's everybody doing?
04:13I just want to thank you Yvette so much for protecting us
04:17Not only me but John, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Kelly
04:21All the artists, we love you so much
04:23And I had to come here tonight to celebrate this blessing
04:27That is you in front of all these people tonight
04:29Come get your award
04:31Thank you
04:33Thank you
04:37Thank you
04:39Thank you
04:41Thank you
04:43Thank you
04:45Thank you
04:47Thank you
04:49Thank you
04:51Thank you
04:53Thank you
04:55That was a big surprise I heard you were coming but I didn't know
04:59you were coming for me
05:01I'm a crier
05:03So I'm gonna ask forgiveness
05:05Before I start
05:07Before I start
05:09I'm a crier
05:11So I'm gonna ask forgiveness
05:13Wow
05:15Okay
05:17Wow
05:19Okay
05:21All right
05:23I'm a crier
05:25So I'm gonna ask forgiveness
05:27Before I start
05:29Wow
05:31Okay
05:33All right
05:35You can do this
05:37So I am so much older than I look
05:45So let's do the 56 year old glasses
05:49Okay
05:51Here we go
05:53What an absolute honor it is to stand before you tonight
05:59To be among this noble class of 2018 honorees
06:03It is an immense validation for me
06:09Thank you for seeing me
06:11Thank you for seeing me
06:13The girl from Birch Grove
06:15The nutmeg village in Grenada
06:17Thank you to all at the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies
06:23Especially the hard working Ann Marie Brand
06:27Janelle to know you
06:29I don't know I can't say anything more about you
06:43You're amazing
06:45And the man Doug E. Fresh
06:47Thank you to my family and friends and the amazing artists in the room
06:55Hello in hell even
06:57Mr. Maxwell
06:59For being here tonight
07:01And contributing to this most important education initiative
07:05Thank you for always seeing my heart
07:09And deeply understanding my soul
07:11As an immigrant child
07:13I certainly never knew what a luminary was meant to be or represent
07:19And when I did I never painted myself with such a bright brush stroke
07:25Not this sensitive child who cried easily
07:29Still cries easily and disappears into a puddle
07:33If someone shows any negativity towards me
07:37But an entire village of hard working farmers
07:41Including my grandparents, my dad
07:43Recognized my giving heart
07:45And understood my passion and zest for life
07:49Was cradled in sensitivity
07:53And compassion that fed my desire to give
07:57One person in particular who built a rock for me to climb upon
08:03Wipe my tears, called me beautiful
08:05And applauded my horrid singing
08:07Was my mommy
08:09An educated, beautiful woman
08:13With a misdiagnosed affliction
08:15That stunted her plans for herself
08:19But infused her with a syringe
08:23Filled with aspiration and love for her children
08:29It is an emotion of desperation
08:31To do better that only immigrants understand
08:37Tonight I am offering a massive thank you to God
08:41For picking that woman to be my life vessel
08:45As you honor me
08:47With such a prestigious award
08:49Allow me
08:51And please
08:53Please be quiet through this
08:55Allow me to send
08:57A really urgent telegram
09:01To heaven
09:03Dear mommy
09:05I wish you were here tonight
09:07To see everything you wished for me
09:11It's happening right now
09:13You should see this room mommy
09:17Everyone looks good
09:19My heart is filled with gratitude
09:22And I'm surrounded by love
09:25They are honoring me
09:27For all that you taught me
09:29To work hard
09:31To give generously of others
09:33To represent who you are
09:36And where you come from with pride
09:38And to make the world a brighter place
09:41Thank you for teaching me mommy
09:45To get up and go
09:47When I did not want to
09:49When the harsh winters of New York City
09:51Never felt like Brian Ann's Beach
09:53Thank you for teaching me to fight the bullies
09:56In Erasmus Hall High School
09:58With hard work, knowledge, and confidence
10:04Thank you for loving my boyfriend
10:07From day one
10:09When I was only seventeen
10:11And had no business loving anybody
10:13At least not that way
10:15Your support for us
10:18Has given me the most beautiful partner
10:22In love and work
10:24For almost fourteen years
10:26Thank you David
10:28Through the fog of mental illness
10:35A disease we still don't really want to talk about
10:39In the Caribbean
10:40You managed to see clearly
10:44How to love
10:46Nothing was clearer to you mommy than love
10:50Thank you for giving me
10:52The gift of picking great friends
10:54They're all around this room
10:56Pick the weeds off
11:01And walk among the blooms
11:04You would say
11:05Thank you for showing me
11:07How to dissect the word responsibility
11:12You used to say
11:14Respond to your ability
11:17I have
11:19Because of you
11:20All I ever wanted to do
11:24Was to make my mother proud
11:26I pray to God that I have
11:29This award
11:31This honor
11:32Is dedicated
11:33To Carmel
11:35Noel
11:36The star
11:39That dimmed
11:40Way too soon
11:42But she gave
11:45Unclouded
11:46Illustrious light
11:48To me
11:49Thank you mommy
11:52For having a bigger dream
11:54Than I could ever imagine
11:56And thank you for being my angel
11:58I had a plan
12:01But you and God had a bigger plan
12:06I am the answer to all your prayers mommy
12:10Every rosary
12:11Every Lord's Prayer
12:14And thanks again to everyone
12:18At the American Foundation
12:21For the University of the West Indies
12:25My favorite place on earth
12:27Thank you for seeing this girl
12:29Thank you
12:30Thank you for honoring me
12:32My children
12:33And my community
12:35I love you
12:36And have a wonderful night
12:38Thank you
12:39Thank you
12:40Thank you
12:41Thank you
12:42Thank you
12:43Can I scrape it in the Grenada flag?
12:46The Pressley-Can I raise it in the Grenada flag?
13:03Let me just raise this a little bit.
13:05Just put a little nutmeg up in here.
13:07The Pressley-Can I keep it?
13:11And then one right over here is the one.
13:12The Pressley-Can I keep it?
13:13The Pressley-Can I keep it?
13:15Thank you, Nadia.
13:19Thanks, everybody.
