Say It Loud — I’m Black & I’m Proud, James Brown
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This week I have been writing about songs with a color in the title. Yesterday Derek Chauvin was convicted on all charges in the murder of George Floyd. Even though there is a lot left to do, it is an important step, police officers need to be accountable — and if they have an issue with that, maybe it is time to look for a different job — or be willing to face the consequences of their actions, just like any other citizen. No one disputes that it is a dangerous profession, if someone is not ok with taking risks, they should not join the police first. Shoot first, ask questions later, does not apply. Using excessive force is not acceptable. Black lives do matter. No one chooses what color skin they are born with, but it is a choice to join the police. The cards are changing. I hope that all the officers that have issues with this leave the job. Enough is enough.
Because of this, I was reminded of the James Brown song, “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.” African Americans today have a reason to be proud. Everyone’s efforts have started to turn the tide. If there is anything I have learned with my almost 50 years of life experience, is that those in power positions will never change the status quo, it is the victims who need to fight for change — and this is why change is so difficult. Victims are usually disenfranchised by the situation they are in and it is very difficult for them to make the required changes — but there is strength in numbers, and if enough people band together change will inevitably occur. I am touched by the resilience African Americans have shown, and not forgetting Darnella Frazier, the teenager who kept filming, even when under threats from the police — may she be an inspiration to all of us.
Enjoy James Brown’s song, “Say It Loud, I’m Black & I’m Proud”:
Uh! With your bad self!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Some people say we’ve got a lot of malice
Some say it’s a lot of nerve
But I say we won’t quit moving until we get what we deserve
We have been ‘buked and we have been scorned
We’ve been treated bad, talked about as sure as you’re born
But just as sure as it takes two eyes to make a pair, ha
Brother we can’t quit until we get our share
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
I worked on jobs with my feet and my hands
But all the work I did was for the other man
Now we demand a chance to do things for ourselves
We’re tired of beating our head against the wall
And working for someone else
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Ooh-wee, give it to me
All right, you’re out of sight
All night, so tough
You’re tough and rough
Ooh-wee, uh, you’re killing me
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
We demand a chance to do things for ourselves
We’re tired of beating our head against the wall
And working for someone else
We’re people, we like the birds and the bees
We’d rather die on our feet
Than be living on our knees
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
All right now, good God
You know we can do the boogaloo
Now we can say with the funky talk, and we do
Sometimes we sing and we talk
You know we jump back and do the camel walk
All right now, all right
All right
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
We demand a chance to do things for ourselves
We’re tired of beating our head against the wall
And working for someone else
We’re people, we like the birds and the bees
We’d rather die on our feet
Than be living on our knees
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Ooh-wee, you’re killing me
All right, you’re out of sight
All right, you’re out of sight
Ooh-wee, ah
Ooh-wee, you’re killing me
Ooh-wee
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud!
