DAY 19: LOUD, PROUD, AND WORKING THE CROWD

Today we highlight some of the many, many contributions that Black performers have made to the entertainment industry. From music to theater, some of the world’s most spectacular entertainers have emerged from the Black community in the U.S. and abroad.

Music to Our Ears

Did you know that Stevie Wonder was the first Black artist to win Album of the Year? His 1973 album titled “Innerversions” was wildly successful, and cemented his place in history with this huge first. In addition, he went on to be the first and only musician of any racial group to win Album of the Year with three consecutive studio albums. To date, only 11 Black artists have won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

Another Black American man won not one, but two Grammy awards without even being a musician. Can you guess who? It was former President Barack Obama in 2005 and 2007. The 2005 award was for Best Spoken-Word Album for the audio version of his memoir, Dreams from My Father. The 2007 award was also for Best Spoken-Word Album for The Audacity of Hope.

Speaking of spoken-word, there was a new category in this year’s Grammy Awards: Best Spoken-Word Poetry Album. Before this year, all spoken-word recordings were grouped into the category Best Spoken Word Album (like the ones Barack Obama won in 2005 and 2007). Now, non-poetry items have a new category: Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording. Check out the poet J. Ivy, who petitioned the Recording Academy to create the new category in the first place. He was the winner of this year’s inaugural Best Spoken Word Poetry Album award for his album “The Poet who sat by the Door.”

Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (1974)

Video for "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder’s Innerversions was an amazing collection of great songs. Here’s one of our favorites from that album. To listen, click the video image or click here: Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (1974) - YouTube

Speaking Out Through Music

Nina Simone raises her voice.

Many of you know Nina Simone for her romantic ballads and sorrowful melodies about gender, race, and poverty… but Nina initially struggled to accept the concept of “protest music.” In her own words, she describes her evolution: “I didn’t like ‘protest music’ because a lot of it was so simple and unimaginative it stripped the dignity away from the people it was trying to celebrate. But the Alabama church bombing and the murder of Medgar Evers stopped that argument, and with ‘Mississippi Goddam,’ I realized there was no turning back.” Listen to the song that inspired these words by clicking below.

PLAY “MISSISSIPPI GODDAM”

Photo of Nina Simone

Pop Quiz!

A one-question trivia check to make sure you’re on your Black History A-game. How many will you get correct throughout the month? Click the button that reads “Today’s pop quiz” to see today’s question.

We’ve talked about music, but let’s go deeper: today’s pop quiz question asks about those multi-talented performers who show up on different stages.

TODAY’S POP QUIZ

Coming up

Check out some of the events happening throughout Black History Month 2023.

TONIGHT 2/19 – “Sunbeam & the Pullman Porters” Virtual Tour of Restored Railcar

What: A virtual event featuring a tour of a restored 1903 Pullman railcar and a discussion on the role of Black Porters in the Pullman Company, the rise of America’s Black middle class, the formation of the Black labor movement, and the momentum for the Civil Rights Movement.

Logistics: This event is being held online on Sunday Feb 19th from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. To register, e-mail stephanie@hildene.org or call 802-367-7960.

2/21 – “50 Ways to Fight Bias: Black Women in the Workplace”

What: A presentation session centered around the biases & microaggressions Black Women face in the workplace

Logistics: This free event is being held online twice: [1] On Tuesday Feb 21st from 9:00-10:00 a.m. [2] On Tuesday Feb 28th from 9:00-10:00 a.m. To register or learn more, visit here: Lean In - 50 Ways to Fight Bias

2/22 – Farmers’ Night: Alexander Twilight

What: At this event, “Middlebury Historian Bill Hart and others pay tribute to Rep. Alexander Twilight of Brownington, elected in 1836 as the nation’s first legislator of African descent.”

Logistics: This free event is being held on Wednesday Feb 22nd at the Vermont State House, located on State St. in Montpelier. Learn more here: Farmers’ Night

2/23 – The Rebel Women of Mathematics

What: A deep dive into the worlds of 30+ women who broke barriers and made their mark in STEM fields — from rocket science to computer programming. Hosted by professor, speaker, and PBS host Talithia Williams.

Logistics: This free event is being held online on Thursday Feb 23rd from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Registration for Rebel Women of Mathematics

2/25 – Black Children’s Books

What: A virtual event to “discover the latest books centering Black children's stories and celebrate the impact of real representation at this opening of a virtual ‘museum’ devoted to Black literature.”

Logistics: This event is being held online on Saturday Feb 25th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Visit the Black Children’s Book Museum

2/25 – The Black Experience

What: This free event will feature discussions and panels with local artists and speakers, and a keynote presentation by iconic activist and scholar Dr. Angela Davis. There will also be a performance by the Philadanco dance company.

Logistics: This free event is being held on Saturday Feb 25th at 5:00 p.m. at The Flynn, located at 153 Main Street in Burlington. Learn more here: The Black Experience 2023

2/26 – “BIPOC Soul Food Sunday” in the NEK

What: An affinity space open only to people of color to experience entertainment from Toussaint St. Negritude and a photo booth by I Am Vermont Too. Attendees are encouraged to bring any kind of dish to share.

Logistics: This event is being held on Sunday Feb 26th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at The Whirligig Brewing, located at 397 Railroad St. in St. Johnsbury.

2/26 - Alexander Twilight Book Release Gathering

What: A presentation from Bill Tulp, a Vermont author and artist who has released a graphic story about Alexander Twilight.

Logistics: This free event is being held on Sunday Feb. 26th from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Grammar School building of the Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village, located at 1569 Hinman Settler Rd. in Orleans. Learn more here: A New Alexander Twilight Graphic Story

This Week’s Raffle

Each week, we will draw 5 names from the list of those who signed up for this e-mail series. We hope you win (yes, you!). The drawings are random; we use the True Random Number Service, which will pick 5 numbers each week from the sign-up list. You don’t need to do anything from here—we’ll e-mail you if you’re a lucky winner.

This is an installment in the State of Vermont’s 28-day Black History Month e-mail series, offered by the Vermont Human Rights Commission and the Vermont Office of Racial Equity. The Human Rights Commission protects people from unlawful discrimination in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations. Learn more about the HRC here. The Office of Racial Equity provides guidance and oversight to identify and mitigate systemic racism in state government. Learn more about the ORE here. Did you receive this e-mail from a friend? Want to sign yourself up for the remainder of the month? Subscribe to this list here.

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