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Eunice Kathleen Waymon

Classical, Jazz, and Activism

By Kayleigh TaylorPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Beauty beyond no doubt

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, a woman with an inconsiderable amount of talent, a love for all things fine and a voice that spoke decades ahead of her time.

Born February 21st 1933, Eunice would have celebrated her 88th birthday a little over a week ago but sadly she died of breast cancer in April 2003. Born in Tryon, North Carolina and losing her battle in Carry-Le-Rouet, France, her 70 years on earth were nothing less than astonishing.

Born to humble backgrounds, she went on to create her own legacy. This African American goddess had the brains and the artistry to succeed in all walks of life.

Eunice was a star student and went on in her life to gain several honorary degrees before changing the face of classical musical and rooting her career in activism. A famous quote surrounding her love of classical music and the fight she had from the population of bigoted and uneducated white people, helped start to change these narrowminded peoples views of the African American artists.

"To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music."

Her unique stance on the rights for people of colour in America and across the world, was one of the reasons; in an uneducated and bigoted society, that Eunice never had a number one hit. In fact, one of her most famous songs was banned from radio play dominantly in the south, due to it's frank discussion of racism. A personal favourite of mine, 'Mississippi Goddam'.

By the early 60's she had become an active member of the civil rights movement and engaged in the Selma to Montgomery marches, while also releasing several civil rights anthems along the way. Including Mississippi Goddam.

So why am I; a 29 year old white woman from the UK, so interested in and in awe of a now deceased African American, civil rights activist from America?

Well, because I'm a 29 year old white woman from the UK.

Too many young, privileged and uneducated people from all walks of life, carry on everyday with their head in the clouds or buried under a rock. We ignore the hardships of the world and we do very little to change the bad because we would rather make excuses for them instead and enjoy the good.

2020, the year covid made the world think. BLM, protests, rallies, Biden. Politics and science heavily mixed and the world stood still in mourning when George Floyd was unjustly killed.

Eunice took a stand for the rights of all people of colour when she could have just as easily turned away from the problems and enjoyed the limelight. Yes, it's true she was in support of violent protests; something I strongly disagree with. But, her message was right, her heart was full and she was paving the way for what today in 2021 young White, Black, Asian, Latino and all other people from all other creeds and races are standing up for today. Equal rights for everybody, no matter their race.

I listen to her music with a feeling of sorrow and excitement. I watch her interviews with anger and sadness in my heart. I hear the intellect and the talent in her voice and I feel the change that was occurring even all of those years ago.

People are quick to talk about Martin Luther King. And yes, he was absolutely a great man with great ideas. But, Eunice is not only an African American person looking for change in a time when people ignored it, she was also a female living in a time when people ignored us too.

She is an inspiration to all young girls and women. She was intelligent, tough, talented and a unique beauty.

She is one of my inspirations and I am grateful her message is still being followed and heard today, so my daughter can grow up in a safer, healthier world.

In case you didn't know already... My inspiration is Nina Simone.

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About the Creator

Kayleigh Taylor

Book, coffee and pet-obsessed writer who loves writing raw truths and fictional fantasies. I hope you enjoy.

Kayleigh

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