In September 2012, I was a junior in college and just beginning to ask myself some hard questions about my identity and place in society. Words like “deconstructing” and “decolonizing” come to mind, but if I’m being real, I wasn’t even at that level yet. I was, however, intrigued enough to sign up for an “Intro to Reconciliation Studies” course taught by a man named Curtiss Paul DeYoung. At this time, Curtiss was a leading voice and revered scholar in the world of reconciliation studies (*he still is). He’d authored many books, worked in prestigious positions, and was a beloved friend of Alan Bosak and the late Desmond Tutu. Just to finish painting the picture, the guy came to teach classes everyday in a suit and tie with Black “Chuck T” converse hightops for shoes. Always in the black Chuck T’s. Legend. Who wouldn’t want to learn from this guy?

Plot twist.

I skipped the first day of Curtiss DeYoung’s class to go to an album release party. Brother Ali has just dropped his “Mourning in America – Dreaming in Color” album and my big brother and I went down to the record shop to be some of the first ears to hear it. From the standpoint of being a student of reconciliation, I believe I made the right choice that day. Maybe you’re thinking that’s biased, but let me tell you, Curtiss agrees with me. I know so, because he still has the signed copy of the album that we also picked up for him that day. True story. 

At this moment, I invite you to listen to the song, “Letter to my Countrymen” by Brother Ali from the “Mourning in America – Dreaming in Color” album. It’s the first song on the album and about 4 minutes long. I promise that it will be 4 minutes well spent. Take your time with it. Run it back a few times. I’ll see you on the other side. 

For those who had the time to listen, thank you. Means a lot. For those who didn’t, no sweat, you can google the lyrics up online and breeze through em if you want.

If you listened to the song all the way through, you might have noticed that it’s Cornel West’s voice at the end of the song. Y’all know Doc, he’s an epic dood with about a million heavy hitting quotes. Here’s just one of them…

“The condition of truth is to allow the voice of suffering to speak”.

-Dr. Cornel West

I love that quote, however I would just like to add, “…or sing”, to the end of it. My experience has taught me that reconciliation begins when the voice of suffering is allowed to speak… or rhyme, or scream, or spit, or sing.

So here’s my piece.

Who or what has most shaped my understanding of reconciliation? Musicians. Particularly the ones who channel the voice of suffering in the most raw and yet eloquent of ways. Rap (rhythm and poetry) music, originating from an oppressed community of color entrenched in a freedom struggle, is especially known for this. KRS-One, a founding father of rap music, wrote the song, “Sound of the Police” in 1990. Through it, he laments the suffering brought about by police brutality and criminalization of black and brown bodies. That song is 32 years old y’all. Imagine if the masses (particularly white folks in America) could have heard that song, and actually listened to it not just with their ears, but with their hearts. Derek Chauvin would have been 15 years old when KRS-One’s  “Sound of the Police” was released. Imagine. 

It’s not as if the truth isn’t being spoken, it’s just if we are ready to listen. Music has provided me access to listen to the voices of suffering from communities all over the world, and by that, it’s been the one thing that has most fundamentally shaped my understanding of reconciliation.

For the record, I’d call myself a student of Brother Ali the same way I am a student of Curtiss DeYoung. The reality is there are so many people via so many mediums who have also found creative and beautiful ways to share stories that shed light to suffering, and that’s a good thing. The truth has just always hit me different when there’s some bass behind it.

Looking to add some tracks to your playlist?

• Artist – “Song”
• Brother Ali – “Travelers” – “Tight Rope” – “Us” – “My Beloved” – “Uncle Sam Goddamn”
• KRS-One – “Sound of the Police”
• Black Thought – “I’m not Crazy (First Contact)”
• Bambu – “Misused”
• Common – “Black America Again”
• Nahko and Medicine for the People – “My Country” – “Love Letters to God”
• Christy Moore – “Natives”
• U2 – “In the Name of Love” – “Sunday Bloody Sunday”