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Lee Daniels: ‘My Mother Knew I Had to Get Out of the Ghetto’

2 minute read
Ideas

I stand before you a very humble man — a very nervous man. I’ve been to many award shows, but this place is on another level.

I think about my kid, my son. I have twins that I didn’t want to have the life that I had. I didn’t have a great life growing up. I had my mom, who’s here tonight. But it wasn’t a great life.

And so I wanted my kids to have the life that I didn’t have, as all parents do. I wonder now… My son says I don’t have enough time for him.

My mom had five kids. And she came home after working three jobs, and I’d rub her feet. We’d all rub her feet. We were lucky to get any time with her.

My mom knew early on that I was gay, and she knew that I had to get out of the ghetto. And so she hit up my next door neighbor, who was a butler — hence The Butler. And he was the butler for Ed Snyder, who was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.

I drove out every day to a world of white people. And that world opened my life into a magical place that I don’t think I would’ve known.

Most of my friends are dead. I watched friends die in my arms at 5, 6, 8. When I grew up the rest of my friends died of AIDS. That I don’t have HIV is a miracle from God.

So this evening is for my mom, because she knew I was destined for something — what that something is, I don’t know. But I love her from the bottom of my heart, and I honor her tonight, because this is really for her.

Clara — Mom — stand up.

See the Stars at the 2015 TIME 100 Gala

Kanye West and his wife, reality television star Kim Kardashian, arrive for the TIME 100 Gala in New York
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters
2015 Time 100 Gala
Emma Watson attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Andrew Toth—FilmMagic/Getty Images
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
Julianne Moore attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
Lorne Michaels attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West, along with Amy Schumer, attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw attend the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
Amy Schumer attends the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
Amy Schumer attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
John Oliver attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
Misty Copeland attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015. Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
Jorge Ramos attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015. Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
Barbara Walters attends the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
Barbara Walters attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
Arianna Huffington attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
Lindsey Vonn and Karlie Kloss attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Lobby Arrivals
Julianna Margulies attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Bennett Raglin—Getty Images for TIME
NY: 2015 Time 100 Gala - Inside
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Diane Von Furstenberg attends the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
Diane Von Furstenberg attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
Padma Lakshmi attends the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York, NY on Apr. 21, 2015.
Padma Lakshmi attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
Danny Meyer and Audrey Meyer attend the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
Danny Meyer and Audrey Meyer attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
John Green and Sarah Urist Green attend the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.
John Green and Sarah Urist Green attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Abby Wambach and Sarah Huffman attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
attends the TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York, NY on Apr. 21, 2015.
Dr. Tom Frieden attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Ina Garten and Jeffrey Garten attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Chanda Kochhar attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Rupert Murdoch attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
Arianna Huffington attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
Jenji Kohan attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Red Carpet
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Guests at the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
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Christopher Nolan talks to TIME reporter Nolan Feeney during the TIME 100 gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015.Jemal Countess—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Cocktails
Kim Kardashian West attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Cocktails
Martha Stewart and Karlie Kloss attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Cocktails
John Oliver attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City April 21, 2015. Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Craig Venter and Elizabeth Holmes attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY, on Apr. 21, 2015. Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Brian Grazer and guest attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY, on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME
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Tim McGraw performs onstage during TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Apr. 21, 2015 in New York City. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
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Bradley Cooper, Nancy Gibbs, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian West attend the TIME 100 gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Apr. 21, 2015.Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
Kanye West performs at TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Apr. 21, 2015 in New York City. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
Kanye West performs on stage at the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
NY: 2015 Time 100 Gala - Inside
Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Clint Spaulding—Patrick McMullan/Sipa USA
NY: 2015 Time 100 Gala - Inside
Julianna Margulies and Keith Lieberthal attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Patrick McMullan —Sipa USA
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
George Lucas, Kanye West, and Elon Musk attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
Bradley Cooper and Lorne Michaels attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
NY: 2015 Time 100 Gala - Inside
Martha Stewart Kanye West attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Patrick McMullan —Sipa USA
NY: 2015 Time 100 Gala - Inside
Laverne Cox, Kim Kardashian and Naomi Campbell attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Patrick McMullan—Sipa USA
TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 Most Influential People In The World - Dinner
Marie Kondo, Julianne Moore and Jenna Lyons attend the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 21, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images for TIME
Laverne Cox poses with a gift bag as she attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY, on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Laverne Cox poses with a TIME 100 gift bag as she attends the TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, NY, on Apr. 21, 2015.Andrew Hinderaker for TIME

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