Eva Jessye

And so there are some really, um, I don't know if it's regional divides, but regional specificities that I think contribute to the story.

I think the fact that Eva Jessye, the great composer who directs the Martin Washington Choir, she's from Western Kansas and goes to a historically Black institution that is no longer Western University.

Her sensibility is very much tied to free soil Black movement after the Civil War, right? That's, that's kind of w- who's forming her, even though she lives a- all aw- across the country.

Um, and then the second question was about the financial retribution.

They're curious about Black power.

Even if they don't like it, they want to learn more.

Uh, for someone like Eva Jessye, who's a musician who's trained in traditional choral music, in the 1970s she's doing experimental opera.

Um, she was, actually worked with, uh, Gertrude Stein on, uh, Four Acts.

Rosa Parks loved members of the NAACP Youth Council, and she's learning about the Black Power struggle.

And Eva Jessye, who I talk about, a musician at the March on Washington, she's in her sixties, and she's doing weird experimental opera, and she's in movies, and she wants to know what, what the latest songs are on the radio.

These women had such an appreciation for what humanity brings, and that comes from not just their marginalization, but understanding that the way to fight that marginalization is to really immerse yourself in your humanity and the humanity of others.

Oh, that's very beautifully put.