Say 'em Loud, Say 'em Clear

We had such a wonderful time sharing our Juneteenth concert, “To Be Free” in a variety of places and spaces throughout Northeast Ohio throughout the past few weeks— ranging from prisons, to homeless shelters, to a garden, and even a brewery!

One audience member shared, “I loved the various genres and styles of music showcasing Black musicians, and I always love the thoughtfulness going into the programming and audience participation.”

We’re grateful for the ways that we were able to grapple with what it means to be free, not only in the context of Juneteenth, but especially in the context of the prisons that we performed this concert in. What does it mean to be truly free when circumstances aim to keep us anything but free?

We ended each concert by singing Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.”  The song opens with the words:

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

I wish I could break all the chains holding me

I wish I could say all the things that I should say

Say 'em loud, say 'em clear

For the whole round world to hear

I wish I could share all the love in my heart

Remove all the bars that keep us apart

I wish you could know what it means to be me

Then you'd see and agree

That every man should be free

We hope and long for the day that we will all be free from the bondage of our circumstances. For Nina Simone, freedom meant living without fear. For us as Christians, we believe in the redemptive freedom that Jesus continually extends to us. Whether we’re celebrating Juneteenth, or simply celebrating the victory of making it another day, may we be reminded that “We need to celebrate freedom by standing up for freedom for everyone.”