Music for the Movement: I’ll Rise Up by Andra Day

My name is Pamela Jafari. I am a  Washingtonian senior who is Black, lesbian, a  mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. I have a 26 y/o grandson, and 3 y/o great-grandson, who I am always concerned about their welfare of these Black young people  in America. I am a playwright and a member of District Community Playback Theater.

I identify with both verse 1 and verse two. In verse one, I know we as a Black people are TIRED of the madness, and we’ll rise up a thousand times again – unafraid. In verse two, I clearly relate to George Floyd’s death, as a symbol of a whole race of people who feel it’s hard to breathe in America!

Verse 1 says 

“You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out”

Verse 2 says

“When the silence isn’t quiet
And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we’ll take the world to its feet”