Strange Fruit

Nina Simone was not only a woman, but a black woman living in a time where equality didn't come so simply. Even yet, Nina Simone pushed herself to eventually go down in history as one of the most influential jazz artists of all time. She was a legendary pianist, singer and most of all civil rights activist who preached for equality during a troubling period in American history.
Listening in class today to one of her most famous performances "Strange Fruit" really showed me who she was and what her style of music was all about. Her tone was so captivating. You can hear the sadness in her voice, yet she sounds so hopeful for change. Another amazing song we listened to today in class by Nina Simone was "Mississippi Goddamn". Thins song had a slightly different style than Strange Fruit, but was just as influential if not more. Nina Simone wrote this song in 1963 after the horrific bombing of an Alabama church that took four innocent lives. She was so incredibly upset over this that she immeditly sat down and wrote this song with pure pain in her heart after it happened. People from all over started to listen and spread her lyrics and intensions throughout America.

It is amazing to see artists of todays generation take after someone so impressionable like Nina Simone. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Jay Z, and Kanye West all use their platform to create music music  vocalizing current struggles in todays America. Kanye West has even incorporated some lyrics from Strange Fruit into one of his very own songs. We need more strong people like Nina Simone that will keep everyone in our country strong, determined and passionate for things they believe in.