Gil Scott Heron: In Praise Of Women

Gil Scott Heron, poet, musician, author, activist. He is probably best known for "The Revolution Will not be Televised", which he wrote in 1969, bringing awareness to the huge contrast between what you saw on the T.V compared to the many demonstrations and violence that was happening on the streets at that time.
https://genius.com/Gil-scott-heron-introduction-the-revolution-will-not-be-televised-small-talk-at-125th-and-lenox-version-annotated

His words always spoke truth with such passion. I have written poetry to express myself since I was a teenager. Growing up in a household where my sisters and I were always told to be quiet, meant the only way I could express myself and my voice was through poetry. And girl did I have alot to say. Stumbling across Gil Scott Heron in my 20's I was instantly attracted to the power and emotion in his words and the way he spoke them. You knew he had alot of fire in him and I really connected with that.

' How will we ever get over losing our minds'

Words hold so much power, when we give voice to our opinions, to our dreams we become closer to making them happen. When we talk about our emotions and give voice to them, we start to let them go, we start to heal.

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I am assuming that a lot of people already know who Gil Scott Heron was, for those who don't he was born in Chicago April 1st 1949. He parents split when he was 2 and he moved in with his grandmother Lily Scott, in Jackson, Tennessee. She was very active in the civil rights movement and you can hear her influence in his words, in his passion and his anger for inequality. He died on May 27, 2011 age 62. For more information on his life, check out this article:
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/gil-scott-heron-brian-jackson-winter-in-america/
I never did get to see him perform live, one regret I do have in Life.

His last Album 'I'm new Here', was a very personal, honest and at times dark recollection of his life. He struggled with addiction for a long time. The way he chose to start and finish that album, is the reason I am writing this post. He talks about how he was raised by his grandmother, and the way he speaks about her, the way he honours her, is so beautiful. Please listen for yourselves.

"I Loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones"
"She raised everyone she touched, just a little bit higher"

The album, itself is his journey through his life. To me it is a masterpiece, his words, his voice, the music he chose to go with it. When it was first released in 2010, I listened to it more or less everyday, sometimes on repeat. My partner eventually would look at me and say not again!

So today I wish to celebrate a man who chose to celebrate the women in his life, in one of the last recording's he ever done.

My Life has been guided by women, but because of them I am a Man
Thank you Gil Scott Heron, for always telling it like it is.

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