2017 will be remembered as the year of #metoo, which was started by Tara Burke, an African American woman. Ms. Burke told Ebony magazine she began the #metoo campaign in 2006 to help rape victims in poor and working class African American communities “where rape crisis centers and sexual assault workers weren’t going.” Ms. Burke and other victims were largely ignored until #metoo was co-opted by wealthy, famous actresses who began accusing Harvey Weinstein of sordid sexual assaults. Meanwhile, young African girls are still getting their clitoris cut off and young African American girls are still getting trains run on them (gang raped). All I hear is the sound of silence when it comes to these voiceless victims. When I write, sing and talk about these and other injustices, trolls and powerful men tell me to “shut up.” but I won’t shut up.
My new album, which will be released during Black History Month 2018, features beautiful rhythmic music and social justice lyrics exploring issues like genocide, homicide, homelessness, and subjugation of women. Delivered with my signature smooth, soulful, jazzy vocals, in a fairy tale style (Grimm’s fairy tales) even a child can understand the significance of these songs. There are also 5 #love songs, because without love, life is meaningless.
I may not be able to save the world, but when we raised money in 2014 in the “Dressember” campaign and donated it to the nonprofit International Justice Mission to free enslaved women and girls; crowd funded in 2015 to record “Free Mama Earth” and shoot video in the rain forest with sales going to environmental and anti-nuclear warfare efforts, I know we are making a positive difference. In 2018, all sales from my homelessness song on the new album will be donated to non proftis who are on the front lines with the “housing first” approach to solving homelessness.
One Love…
Aria