Bobby Rush shared a heart felt story while receiving a key to the city

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Legendary blues singer Bobby Rush received a key to the city of Vicksburg on Thursday at the Mayor and Board of Alderman meeting.

Rush was excited and honored to be bestowed the award, his genuine emotion apparent in his tearful acceptance speech.

For the first time, Rush shared the story of how he was treated differently in public, and even privately, due to his race while growing up.

“My mother was blue-eyed with blonde hair…she was my mother in the public, but she didn’t want anyone to know that,” Rush said. “She had me sit in the back of the wagon when we was out, but in the seat with her when we got home.” he added.

“I had to live and love my mother right here only when I was at home, because she couldn’t be my mother out in public.”

Rush went on to thank everyone for the award and mentioned that he had a book coming out soon. He won a Grammy in 2017 for his soulful music, and he treated attendees to a song after his speech.