Juneteenth, and Eunice K. Waymon (Nina Simone)

Time for our annual Black American commemoration of Juneteenth. June 19, 1865 is celebrated by Black Americans as the date when our ancestors in the deep South and West (Texas) finally got word of the Emancipation Proclamation. On paper it had recognised their right to freedom from enslavement effective Jan. 1st of the same year, but, of course, no official source had notified them. In 2008, when she would have turned 75, Juneteenth makes me want to sing some Eunice Kathleen Waymon (aka the late, great Nina Simone); particularly the way she interpreted Dr. Billy Taylor's "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free." Ms. Simone (1933-2003) hailed from Tryon, Polk County, North Carolina (close to Georgia and S. Carolina borders). Reflecting her versatility she made her musical debut, in North Carolina, playing European classical music. "Her concert debut, a classical piano recital, was made at the age of ten. During her performance, her parents, who had taken seats in the front row, were forced to move to the back of the hall to make way for white people. Simone refused to play until her parents were moved back." (Wikipedia.org.) A belated happy birthday, Miss Eunice, and happy Juneteenth!