Are You Ready to Smash White Things?
"I know there are only 300 black students in this college of 18000. So this song is dedicated only to you." The song being 'To be Young, Gifted and Black'
Before this around 41:43, after Nina sings, 'Mississippi Goddamn', an interview with civil rights activist and entertainer Dick Gregory also strikes out. He talks of how listening to her sing that struck him because she was doing something different, and that a lot of black folk would have wanted to so 'Mississippi, Goddamn' but would be scared to, however she said it multiple times in a song. He says, "to have someone of her stature talking about your problem.."
In the beginning of the documentary, one of the interviewees talks of how it seemed as if there was something always eating away at Nina, or that something was missing. And once she starts actively taking part in the civil rights struggle, that changes.
I think what brings about that change is the ownership of her music. It isn't something that shes doing anymore for money, or because of her husband, but because its contributing to a struggle that has impacted her as a child, her dreams and her family.
The dedication of the song to those black students in college, from our perspective might not seem like a big deal, but to those students and to Nina it is. It is a huge deal because in a time when black people were marginalized and oppressed, there was nothing special for them, there were no privileges for them, but then to have someone of Nina's 'stature', someone who's music was a success not just among black people but also among white people, for someone like that to single you out among 18000 people, and dedicate a song to you about your struggles and your potential is a huge deal.
It is monumental. Its a song written by a black play write, about young black people and sung by a black singer.
As Ambassador Shabaz put it the song gave people the chance to stand up and 'engage in their African-ness without apology'
Nina's interactions were with other black activists like Malcolm X and so her approach to activism was influenced by his 'any means necessary' approach. This is an important thing to note because it came through so clearly in her music, even more than it could have in the speeches made by other activists. Her music was loud and proud of who she was, who black people were and by virtue of it being music, she could get away with saying a lot politically that many activists wouldn't have been able to like 'Mississippi Goddamn'.
Her music didn't just appeal to the politics of black people, but also just in terms of their culture and their physical existence, and at the end of the day considering black history this is just as political as the demand for voting rights etc. In a time when black people were still told that they are inferior to white folk, that their noses are too big or their lips are too fat, that they are lazy and stupid, there was someone like Nina Simone telling them that they had a future, that they were enough as they were in songs like 'Ain't go no, I got life'.
Before this around 41:43, after Nina sings, 'Mississippi Goddamn', an interview with civil rights activist and entertainer Dick Gregory also strikes out. He talks of how listening to her sing that struck him because she was doing something different, and that a lot of black folk would have wanted to so 'Mississippi, Goddamn' but would be scared to, however she said it multiple times in a song. He says, "to have someone of her stature talking about your problem.."
In the beginning of the documentary, one of the interviewees talks of how it seemed as if there was something always eating away at Nina, or that something was missing. And once she starts actively taking part in the civil rights struggle, that changes.
I think what brings about that change is the ownership of her music. It isn't something that shes doing anymore for money, or because of her husband, but because its contributing to a struggle that has impacted her as a child, her dreams and her family.
The dedication of the song to those black students in college, from our perspective might not seem like a big deal, but to those students and to Nina it is. It is a huge deal because in a time when black people were marginalized and oppressed, there was nothing special for them, there were no privileges for them, but then to have someone of Nina's 'stature', someone who's music was a success not just among black people but also among white people, for someone like that to single you out among 18000 people, and dedicate a song to you about your struggles and your potential is a huge deal.
It is monumental. Its a song written by a black play write, about young black people and sung by a black singer.
As Ambassador Shabaz put it the song gave people the chance to stand up and 'engage in their African-ness without apology'
Nina's interactions were with other black activists like Malcolm X and so her approach to activism was influenced by his 'any means necessary' approach. This is an important thing to note because it came through so clearly in her music, even more than it could have in the speeches made by other activists. Her music was loud and proud of who she was, who black people were and by virtue of it being music, she could get away with saying a lot politically that many activists wouldn't have been able to like 'Mississippi Goddamn'.
Her music didn't just appeal to the politics of black people, but also just in terms of their culture and their physical existence, and at the end of the day considering black history this is just as political as the demand for voting rights etc. In a time when black people were still told that they are inferior to white folk, that their noses are too big or their lips are too fat, that they are lazy and stupid, there was someone like Nina Simone telling them that they had a future, that they were enough as they were in songs like 'Ain't go no, I got life'.
Comments