When Adolph “Addy” Small migrated to the United States from Jamaica 53 years ago, the Civil Rights Movement in that country was still in full cry. He was shocked to see the conditions many black people lived in.
It inspired him to write the poem, Black Woman Anthem because a significant number of the downtrodden were female. It was recently recorded as a song by singer Michael Dawkins.
Released in late November, it is produced by the New York-based artist for his Big Scope Records.
“According to Addy, he didn’t like the way how black people were living especially black women. Involvement in prostitution, getting high on drugs, lying down on the sidewalk, and being homeless on the street. He said it brought tears to his eyes to see a people who came from kings and queens fall so low,” said Dawkins.
The 1970s were challenging times in the US for black women. Their plight was magnified by activists such as Angela Davis, poet Maya Angelou and actress Cicely Tyson.
And even though great strides have been made with the rise of black women in politics such as current vice-president Kamala Harris and former secretary of state Condoleeza Rice, Dawkins believes equality still evades persons of color in the United States.
“It’s time for black people to take their rightful place on the world stage again as the founders of civilization and become the best versions of ourselves again so we can reach a golden age of tranquility,” he said.
From Kingston, Jamaica, Dawkins has been recording music since the 1980s. His noted songs include Don’t Give me No Crack and a cover of Bread’s Baby I’m A Want You.
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