 On sunday, the day following Christmas, I heard that Curtis Mayfield pass away from this reality. Others have moved on like Brother Earland and Grover Washington Jr. But Mayfields home going has left me wondering, do we remember ? Yes, remember. I know this sounds strange. And I can't really explain it. But I grew up under his wisdom about love, relationships, brother and sisterhood, humanity, struggle, liberation, Blackness, and pride. Remember ? Curtis was the second lead voice and writer for The Impressions. remember, he took over for the Ice Man, Jerry Butler. Jerry was a bit before my time but I remember the nerdy dud, somewhat unkempt, with a acoustic guitar standing in front of the group from Chi Town. Oh yeah, he wore horn realm glasses and sung in fasetto. Remember ? They were the voices of another midwest town. But unlike Detroit that had gone international and got massive air play. The Impressions songs were sometimes force underground (We're A Winner: 1967) playing on the vibes of the hearts and souls of that newly emerging group called Black America. Remember ? A Mayfield tune held the mirror to your face. Sometimes his words made you turn away. It didn't take a perfect voice or four part harmony to recapture his songs while standing on the street. But it did take courage to sing his songs with conviction. Remember ? Songs about love gave wings to our hearts. Songs about relationships were mature even when breaking apart. Songs about Black woman, yes songs about BLACK WOMEN. Back-in-tha-day folks tried to sing about some mystical creature called the ideal woman. Unusually she look very white. Curtis tied the love and respect for your mother and your sister with the love of your life. He sung about Black women as Mother Natures' only God Child (Miss Black America). While others were singing about love without responsibility Curtis look deeper at a true sources of respect and love (The Making Of You: 1970 ). Songs about our struggle were Hopeful. Remember ? Brother Mayfield started his own record label called CURTOM: WE'RE A WINNER. He challenge us to look at the problems of the ghetto from a Black economic perspective. Check out these words:
We're over 20 million strong and it wouldn't take long to save the ghetto child, If we'd get off our ass, $10 a man yearly think awhile 20 million times 10 yearly would surely then set our brothers free what congregation with better relations would demand more respect from society....... The brother's life was nearly taken when a beam fell upon him during a performance. He surveyed to show us true courage and conviction to his life and art. Remember ? Let us honor another warrior passing into yet another reality. Let us tell the story, but first learn the story of this brother's life. Let us not forget that we are not free and freedom songs are needed to point the way. Remember and don't forget. peace Gail |