Why did Nina Simone write young gifted and black?
Why did Nina Simone write young gifted and black?
Simone wrote the song to honor Hansberry’s memory. Simone told Irvine she wanted lyrics that “will make black children all over the world feel good about themselves forever.” It proved to be a tall order for Irvine.
Did Nina Simone write young gifted and black?
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
| “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” | |
|---|---|
| Song by Nina Simone | |
| Composer(s) | Nina Simone |
| Lyricist(s) | Weldon Irvine |
| Producer(s) | Stroud Productions |
Where does the phrase Young Gifted and Black come from?
“To Be Young, Gifted and Black” was a dedication to Nina Simone’s friend, the playwright Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote A Raisin in the Sun. Hansberry was the first black woman to have a play performed on Broadway; she and Simone bonded over civil rights and radical politics.
Who first said Young Gifted and Black?
Lorraine Hansberry
56 years ago, a dying Lorraine Hansberry coined the phrase “young, gifted and black.” Lorraine Hansberry—the iconic playwright and activist whose 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of 20th century American literature—was born ninety years ago today in Chicago, Illinois.
What was Nina Simone’s dream job?
It is important to remember that, in her early years, Nina Simone didn’t consider herself a singer at all — her dream was to become a classical pianist working without vocal accompaniment, performing those timeless compositions taught to her by her English piano teacher.
How does the song Young Gifted and Black make you feel?
Striped down to its most-basic element, this is a Black empowerment song. And the specific purpose of the track is to increase the self-confidence and positively inspire the global outlook of Black children.
Why is Nina Simone important?
Nina Simone, original name Eunice Waymon, (born February 21, 1933, Tryon, North Carolina, U.S.—died April 21, 2003, Carry-le-Rouet, France), American singer who created urgent emotional intensity by singing songs of love, protest, and Black empowerment in a dramatic style, with a rough-edged voice.
Who taught Nina Simone to play the piano?
By the age of three, Simone was already playing complete songs on the piano — blues and gospel tunes at church. But it was really the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other classical composers that captured the young pianist’s imagination as she began her formal piano lessons.
What age is Nina Simone?
70 years (1933–2003)
Nina Simone/Age at death
