Say it Loud!

I was just a toddler when soul superstar James Brown released “Say it Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud,” so I don’t remember its debut. But his end-of-summer hit promptly became an anthem for the Black Power movement, buoying spirits in the wake of Dr. King Jr.’s assassination. It remains a cultural touchstone. 

“It sounds like a children’s song,” Brown once wrote. “That’s why I had children in it, so children who heard it could grow up feeling pride.” Well, Mr. Brown: mission accomplished! I feel fortunate to have spent my childhood immersed in the Black and proud era’s embrace. 

One reason I do the work that I do now is so others can have the same feeling I had growing up. Black people everywhere should have access to media that fills them with pride and inspiration. Of course, people who are not Black enjoy these works, too. But I recognize, as Mr. Brown did, that these works of art are especially precious to us. 

Celebrate Black Achievement on Labor Day

In a few days, many Americans will take a break from our usual routines to celebrate Labor Day. As you observe it, I invite you to reflect on the millions of proud Black Americans who have labored long and hard over the centuries to help this nation become the economic superpower it is today. From A. Phillip Randolph, Nannie Helen Burroughs and Bayard Rustin, to Elizabeth Powell, Chris Smalls and April Verrett, labor history is our history. And if you want to share a few documentaries to help your loved ones feel Black and proud over the weekend, check these out:

• • For Jobs and Freedom: A Black Nouveau, by Joanne Williams
  • UNION, by Martin DiCicco and Stephen Maing

• • A Philip Randolph: For Jobs and Freedom, by Stanley Nelson Jr.

• • The Disappearance of Miss Scott, by Nicole London

That last one isn’t really about a labor leader, but it highlights the role Hazel Scott had in advocating for fair treatment of Black folks in the film industry. If you live in the NYC metro area, I invite you to join me and documentary filmmaker Nicole London this Saturday evening in Harlem, where her film will be shown on a big-screen. Click here for details.

Meanwhile, if you seek an uplifting song to bop to over the weekend, follow Mr. Brown’s advice, “Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud!”