In addition to being a talented and skilled musician, Nina Simone was a civil rights activist and leader. Her messages were prevalent in her songs, including educating the public on the racism issues that were taking place in the nation during that time (only slightly different from the racism issues of today). One example song is “Mississippi Goddam.” Though the message was conveyed through a different medium, it was the same as that of Martin Luther King Jr and other civil rights activists of the time, revealing the issues of the nation (especially racism) and demanding equality and peace. A few days after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination in 1968, she and her band performed a tribute song at the Westbury Music Festival on Long Island, NY. The song was titled “Why? (The King of Love is Dead).” Like most people in the nation, Nina Simone was saddened and angry about Martin Luther King Jr’s death. Though Dr. King is gone, his legacy carries on through all of us who care about civil rights and peace for all humanity, regardless of what race or ethnicity we are, and the same goes for the legacies of all the other civil rights activists and leaders who spoke up for equality and peace. [Image Source: Music Video “Nina Simone: Mississippi Goddam”]