Roots

Over the last 29 days I have shared 26 videos of songs on my social media sites. I began it in an effort to bring joy to people. The first and second song I posted were ‘Lean on Me’ and ‘Lift Ev’ry Voice’ both staples in the Black community. I remember in middle school being asked to sing ‘Lift Ev’ry Voice’ over the intercom, I remember thinking, ‘Am I black enough for this?’ and ‘What will people think of me?’ As I got older ‘Lean on Me’ taught me about my voice and my place in peoples lives. Both songs taught me that my vocal cords love spirituals. They easily settle into thicker orchestrations and thrive in a cappella situations.

Still…I wonder what people think when I sing these songs based in Black tradition, that carry so much heritage and struggle. The songs that I often feel I have no right to touch because my skin passes me off as white even though my soul has felt that struggle. Those videos were some of my best received, perhaps because they were the first, perhaps because of the use I played in one, or perhaps because they’ve been up the longest. Who knows really? During this quarantine I am seeking out music by Black composers or have texts by Black poets or speakers. They fit like that last puzzle piece, they feel easy, unburdened by that of the music of Mozart or others on my voice. It is nice to be encompassed by that, even if its only for a little while.