Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Voices
Yesterday I was fiddling around with a new little speaker for a computer. I bought it for less than $20 so I wondered about the sound quality. At the same time, Jan was listening to music on her phone, so we decided to give the speaker a try.
If you’ve never heard of Cynthia Erivo you are missing out on a small but mighty woman with a huge range and a rich tone. She played the role of Harriet Tubman in the movie. She was singing “Stand Up”, the title song from the movie and an altogether gorgeous song. The refrain goes, “That’s when I’m gonna stand up, take my people with me. Together we are going to a brand new home. Far across the river can you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer. Gonna keep on keepin on. I can feel it in my bones.” Every time I hear her singing those words I get goose bumps.
The speaker worked nicely and I marveled at the technology that allowed me to spend very little on something that used to cost a lot. But the point is, it captured the sound of her voice and sent her winging through the room. Jan is very patient because I like to sing along and harmonize when I can. I sometimes wonder if that is annoying, but I do it anyway.
We went on Youtube and looked up some Cynthia performances and listened in awe. As I was scrolling through the Tube I found one of Cynthia Erivo AND Jennifer Hudson singing a song from “The Color Purple”. Not a minute into it and I was in tears at the profound gifts of these two artists. I mean I was hauled into a state of absolute wonder so strong that I couldn’t keep from weeping at the beauty coming through the speaker. That sounds melodramatic but you had to be here and hear what we heard. When voices melt into one another the result is sometimes breathtaking. That’s how it was with these two women with such powerful voices.
Not long after that experience, it was time for our Racial Justice Learning Group Zoom meeting. We are reading from a book called, “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together”. Heather McGhee is the author, and I would recommend this book strongly. Only, that is, if you want to learn hard facts about how racism is woven into the fabric of the United States of America.
Anyway, I was still moved by the musical prayer time that preceded this meeting. I also thought about what the assigned chapter had revealed: how prevalent the efforts are to suppress the votes of people of color. Purging voter rolls, stringent picture ID rules, closing polling locations, all to promote a smaller pool of voters. This affects We The People’s ability to regulate taxes, corporate behaviors, to fund public benefits and protect civil rights. In my mind I could still hear the two Black women singing about being free from oppression. I could hear the words from “Stand Up” about standing up and taking her people with her.
So, this is a blog about how music can move me to tears and remind me of the power of words, spoken or sung or read. My book club experience has brought home to me just how pervasive racism is in our society. Somehow, last night’s combination of voices lifted in song and in study is still with me this morning.