Nina Simone

Nina Simone, born Eunice Waymon, was a singer who became a prominent voice of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Originally recognized as a jazz singer, Simone evolved into one of the most famous vocalists of her time as she sang about black empowerment, love, and protest.  She became aware of prevalent racism after her parents kept being forced to stand in the back at her piano recitals. After attending Juilliard, she started writing protest songs, and quickly befriended Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, who asked her to perform at civil rights demonstrations. She became wildly popular after she added folk and gospel songs as well as songs by the Bee Gees and Bob Dylan to her lists. Eventually, Simone became so angered by American racism that she left the United States in 1973 and chose to reside in Barbados and France for the rest of her life. However, her music still inspires freedom of speech and equality for all.