A Tribute to Stevie Wonder

I don't remember when I became a Stevie Wonder fan. His album Talking Book came out 50 years ago, when I was 10. His music accompanied my childhood, teen years and young adulthood. It's still part of every road trip & dance playlist I'm part of.

Click to listen

I always appreciated Stevie's political candor and the poignancy of his songs. I ached with righteousness at his lyrics. Yet for decades, I took them as indictments about what They (the government) are doing to Them (the Black people). None of it was about me.

Click to watch

Now I know better. I still love (with righteousness & a raised fist) You Haven't Done Nothin', but now I hear how he's not just talking about Nixon, he's talking about me. Like anyone else raised in this country, I've been racialized. Part of my racialization as a white person is to not see the ways I'm involved in upholding the very oppression I want to eradicate.

Click to read/listen

For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm actually doing something. Not only do I see the expressions of oppression and racism all around me, but I understand their architecture and how they racialize me. This is the foundation of what I convey, in my workshops, racial equity coaching, organizational consulting, and conversation facilitation.

Back to Stevie: the New York Times created a beautiful, interactive, sound-rich tribute to "Talking Book": 50 Years Ago, Stevie Heard the Future. I recommend it to anyone moved by his music, words, and politics. And for those of you who want to be so moved.

Maybe this month's We Are Well-Meaning White Folks conversation will feature a Stevie interlude.

Dec. 2022

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