Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.
Nina SimoneRead
You feel the shame, humiliation, and anger at being just another victim of prejudice, and at the same time, there's the nagging worry that maybe... you're just no good.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the emotional turmoil faced by victims of prejudice, blending feelings of shame and self-doubt.
Nina Simone's quote explores the deep emotional effects of prejudice on individuals, highlighting not only the external forces of shame, humiliation, and anger but also the internal struggle with self-worth that victims may experience. It emphasizes how societal biases can lead to a complex sense of identity crisis, where individuals question their own value in addition to feeling victimized by others.
In practice
In a discussion about social justice at a community meeting.
Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.
Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.
I only knew classical music, which to me was the only true music. The only way I could survive at the bar was to mix the classical music with popular songs, and that meant I had to sing. What happened was that I discovered I had a voice plus the talent to mix classical music together with more popular songs, which at the time I detested.
Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
I didn't get interested in music. It was a gift from God.
This may be a dream, but I'll say it anyway: I was supposed to be married last year, and I bought a gown. When I meet Nelson Mandela, I shall put on this gown and have the train of it removed and put aside, and kiss the ground that he walks on and then kiss his feet.
The action of Rosa Parks, the words and leadership of Dr. King inspired me. I was deeply inspired. I wanted to do something.
She asked if we were calm enough for her to take off the cuffs, and McMurphy nodded. He had slumped over with his head hung and his elbows between his knees and looked completely exhausted--it hadn't occurred to me that it was just as hard for him to stand straight as it was for me.
No healthy Christian ever chooses suffering; he chooses God's will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not.
I've been through everything. I always said I was like those round-bottomed circus dolls β you know, those dolls you could push down and they'd come back up? I've always been like that. I've always said, No matter what happens, if I get pushed down, I'm going to come right back up.
I have lived my life according to this principle: If I'm afraid of it, then I must do it.
As a visible and outspoken trans woman myself, I know that it's rare not to have your trans-ness lead the way for you in public spaces.
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