The day Nina Simone's skin grew a little more black

Nina Simone, born Eunice Waymon, had her first town recital when she was eleven years old. Her parents came to watch their daughter play. They had, in fact, been there rather early to make sure that they did not miss her recital and sat in the front row .... only to be asked to give up their front row seats to a white family. Little Eunice at the piano stood up and refused to play.
It was her first concert and it was the very day she became aware of racism for the first time. To her it was like "switching on a light". Her parents were allowed to keep their seats but it was too late to make them stop feeling embarrassed. Eunice Waymon felt "cut raw" yet "the skin grew back again a little tougher, a little less innocent, and a little more black." (Loudermil, 2013)



Related posting: Nina Simone

More Nina Simone:
::: Stars & Feelings (Montreaux 1976 Jazz Festival): WATCH/LISTEN
::: Sinner Man (Montreaux 1976 Jazz Festival): WATCH/LISTEN




- Fluch, K. (2016) Das Tremolo des Widerstands. Gerechter Zorn, ewige Kunst: Das Boxset "Nina Simone. The Philips Years", Der Standard, 23. Juli 2016, S. 20
- Loudermilk, A. (2013) Nina Simone & the Civil Rights Movement: Protest at Her Piano, Audience at her Feet. Journal of International Women#s Studies, 14(3), 121-136.
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