Actor Will Smith was honored on Wednesday with a street renamed in his honor, reflecting his deep roots in the neighborhood where he grew up.
The 2000 block of North 59th Street, adjacent to his alma mater Overbrook High School, will now bear the name "Will Smith Way."At a ceremony attended by Smith, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, and other city officials, the actor shared emotional reflections about his upbringing. "When I thought about the 'Will Smith Way,' I thought about my mother, my father, and my grandmother," he said. "The lessons I received from them are what this street represents."
Smith credited his father for instilling in him the values of hard work and discipline. "You can't make a life if you're not willing to sacrifice and work for your dreams," he explained. The actor also expressed his gratitude to the city of Philadelphia for providing him with the tools to succeed. "Nobody gets an easy ride. That’s something the streets of Philadelphia taught me — the value of a hard day's work," Smith remarked.
Concluding his speech, Smith shared his love for his hometown, saying, "Philly, I love you. I am yours, you are mine."
Earlier in the week, Smith reflected on the ten-year Oscars ban he received following the incident with Chris Rock. "I am looking to be the best human I can possibly be, and I’m going to take what I get with that," he said in an interview with the Associated Press.
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