The past couple of days has been the spotlight for Black women all over celebrating, remembering, honoring the lives and reasons why black girls rock.  I was going to do a review on the Tyler Perry film “For Colored Girls” but I figured that there are enough depressing reviews that will cover my feelings for the rest of the week.  The 5th Annual Black Girls Rock awards aired on BET this past Sunday and it was one of the best black recognitions that I witnessed (from my hotel room). The best part was indeed the performance by Kelly Price, Marsha Ambriosus, Jill Scott, and Ledisi who are the powerhouses in soul music.  They did a cover of Nina Simone’s “Four Women” which tells a story of four stereotypes of African American women and their struggles.  While many were just blown away by their voices I feel that the concept made perfect sense for the evening and the strength, power, and wisdom leaked tremendously from the voices of the women.  Here are the lyrics, the cover from BET, and a Nina Simone Original. Enjoy!

My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is wooly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
Its been inflicted again and again
What do they call me
My name is AUNT SARAH
My name is Aunt Sarah

My skin is yellow
My hair is long
Between two worlds
I do belong
My father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night
What do they call me
My name is SIFFRONIA
My name is Siffronia

My skin is tan
My hairs alright, its fine
My hips invite you
And my lips are like wine
Whose little girl am I?
Well yours if you have some money to buy
What do they call me
My name is SWEET THING
My name is Sweet Thing

My skin is brown
And my manner is tough
Ill kill the first mother I see
Cos my life has been too rough
Im awfully bitter these days
because my parents were slaves
What do they call me
My
name
is
PEACHES