And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you're going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them. My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Alicia Keys's "Caged Bird," was inspired by Maya Angelou's poem "Caged Bird."
Maya Angelou's Caged Bird: A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. When I sing, I don't want them to see that my face is black. I don't want them to see that my face is white. I want them to see my soul. And that is colorless. It is Black History Month, so this month I will post inspiring and motivating, yet historical, media from my rich history. Here's powerful video of Jill Scott singing the song "Strange Fruit," which was made popular by Billie Holiday. This song was inspired by a photograph of lynching, and was written by Abel Meeropol.
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Skyler ReedMy life is a song still being written...watch my lyrics evolve. Archives
December 2020
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