Some of my racial heroes are.... An inspiring conversation with Gin Hammond

One of the people that I think about most regularly, who's a hero for me. Marian Anderson, the opera singer. First of all, a lot of people told her that, you're black, you can't sing opera. It's just not done. It's a Western European art form and all of that.

And she defied all of that through her art.

And she inspired millions of people, particularly on the day when she was joined by a white ally, Eleanor Roosevelt who quit the D. A. R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) because they would not let Marian Anderson sing in a building that was owned by the D.A. R.

So she was like, “Girlfriend, I've got connections. So let's go to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I'll get this all set up for you.”

And the crowd was massive.

Eleanor Roosevelt was by Marian Anderson's side as she sang a live radio program. She was able to truly shine in that moment, I suspect also because she knew it was about more than her. This was about everybody. This was about uplifting the spirits of her people.

I'm sure it uplifted the spirits and perhaps changed the minds of people outside of her community. Paul Robeson's one of the other ones. They were contemporaries.

Also Audre Lorde. She says, “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important, whether or not I'm afraid.”

So I try to keep these inspirations all around me.

I’m Gin Hammond and I’m Living IncogNegro. I’m glad you’re here and we’re on this journey together.

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