Nina Simone, "Mississippi Goddam"

          I wasn't in class on Thursday, during which I assume the class learned about Nina Simone and her involvement in the civil rights movement. After reading and viewing other students blogs, I took it upon myself to watch the Nina Simone documentary on Netflix, listen to her song "Mississippi Goddam", and read a little more about her life through biography.com and a personal website dedicated to her and everything she was about. After learning about Simone, I have realized she played a big role during the Civil Rights Movement and was a constant activist for African American rights during that time period.

          Although Simone did many things in her life to contribute to the issues during the 60's, I chose to specifically focus on her song "Mississippi Goddam"and the message she wanted to portray. During the 60's and the Civil Rights Movement, it was hard for people to get their messages across an d show their standpoints on the issues but Simone found her way. In the song you can hear and see through the lyrics, the pain, struggle, and concern that she had for the issues of racism. She really brings to light what actually was going on. Talking about children sitting in jail just for the color of their skin, how her and many others felt like everyday they we're going to die, and repeating the words of slave owners telling their workers that they are doing their tasks wrong or too slow. Simone is a powerful woman, and she used her position as a singer to inform others on the reality of her and other African Americans lives. I feel so much power coming through this song and her determination to get the equality she wants and knows everyone deserves.

          Through Simone's words of empowerment and encouragement in "Mississippi Goddam" and all of the other aspects of contribution, she had to help with change in the 60's, Simone left a legacy of freedom, passion, and love for years to come. She knew she could use her power of music, talent, and fearlessness to create change in the world, and thats exactly what she did. I feel like there is a lot people can learn from Simone and everything she did. We can learn to stick up for what we know is right, regardless of how people might feel about what we have to say. Overall after learning about Simone's life I learned that everything she did or sang was meant to send a message of truth and realization and that she would not let anything stop her from saying what she knows needs to be said. And because of that Nina Simone will forever be a figure of strength, resilience, and determination.