To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1969)

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To Be Young, Gifted and Black is a song performed by Nina Simone with lyrics written by Weldon Irvine, and was originally recorded and released by Simone in 1969. The song was also additionally featured on her 1970 album Black Gold and considered as an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement . Released as a single, the song peaked at number eight on the R&B chart and number 76 on the Hot 100. The title and opening line of the song was taken from Lorraine Hansberry's autobiographical play, To Be Young, Gifted and Black.[1]

Key Lyrics

Young, gifted and black

How I long to know the truth

There are times when I look back

And I am haunted by my youth


Oh but my joy of today

Is that we can all be proud to say

To be young, gifted and black

Is where it's at

Popular Culture

Simone notable performance was when sang To Be Young, Gifted, and Black to a group of children on the PBS TV famous series Sesame Street on February 18, 1972.[2]

Cover Versions

Notable cover versions of the song were recorded by:

• Donny Hathaway (on his 1970 album Everything Is Everything)[3];

• Aretha Franklin (on her 1972 album Young, Gifted and Black)[4];

• Bob and Marcia (whose 1970 recording reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart[2] and number 15 in Ireland)[5];

• Elton John recorded a version of "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" in 1970, prior to his solo success. Intended to be released as a low-budget sound-alike version of the original, it was reissued in 1994 on the compilation album Covers as Sung by Elton John[6];

• American singer Meshell Ndegeocello included a version on her 2012 tribute album Pour une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone.[7]

References

  1. https://www.recordresearch.com/books/top-rb-singles-1942-2016/. Joel Whitburn. 2004. Record Research, p. 528. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGckHQ15bZM. 18 February 1972. Youtube. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everything_Is_Everything_(Donny_Hathaway_album). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young,_Gifted_and_Black. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Hit_Singles_%26_Albums. David Roberts. 2006. London: Guinness World Records Limited., p. 67. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartbusters_Go_Pop. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pour_une_%C3%82me_Souveraine:_A_Dedication_to_Nina_Simone. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 20, 2021.