From a young age Nina Simone burned to show the world her elite piano skills. She dreamed that people would finally respect her and that she could transcend the daily discrimination she endured. Instead of being encouraged to follow her passion like more privileged peers, she faced barriers and detours that only fueled the creativity, frustration and visionary spirit that defined her career.
Nina’s revolutionary music communicates the primacy of freedom. Her desperate message is driven by our shared humanity: to feel that we are a being of worth. To be continually met with suspicion or fear is a struggle…to continually try and convince society your perspective matters is exhausting. Even so she sings, "I'm still free to believe in me".
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Backlash Blues
You give me second class houses And second class schools. Do you think that all the colored folks Are just second class fools? Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna leave you With the backlash blues.
I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free
I wish I could share All the love that's in my heart
…
I wish I could give All I'm longin' to give I wish I could live Like I'm longin' to live I wish I could do All the things that I can do
"All I’m trying to do all the time is just open people up so they can feel themselves and let themselves be open to somebody else. That is all. That is it."
-Nina Simone
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