Mississippi Goddam

Composer

  Nina Simone

Lyricist

 Nina Simone 

Arranger

 Lori C Hicks 

Score Status

 Self-Published 

“Mississippi Goddam” by Nina Simone, an SSAA choral arrangement by Dr. Lori Hicks. This song was written by Ms. Simone in 1964 in response to the senseless killing of Medgar Evers in Mississippi and the church bombing in Birmingham, AL that killed 4 black girls. In the crux of the Civil Rights era, where African Americans were protesting and fighting for equal rights and treatment in the US, we are now in 2020 living in a second wind of a Civil Rights movement; where black Americans are calling for the radical alteration and overhaul of education, prison, and political systems and most especially law enforcement, as the killing of unarmed black men and women by police officers is largely disproportionate to any other race in America; not just reform, but completely new systems!

Concerning the use of the obscenity “Goddam,” MUSE does not and will not apologize for swearing in the face of racism. We choose not to tone police Nina Simone; tone policing is part of the structure that perpetuates racism in this country. If Black America says “Goddam,“ MUSE says “Goddam” with them, for it may not sit comfortably in our throats, but we unapologetically join the voices of Black America in this resistance! MUSE stands with all who protest and fight against systemic oppression and racial inequity, for

“…at this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved.” – Nina Simone

Voicing

SSAA

Text Language

English

Difficulty

2-Average

Duration

4–5 min

Characteristics

BIPOC composer – Commission – Concert Opener – Production Number – Woman composer

Theme

Civil Rights
Death
Discontent
Protest
Voting Rights

Genre

Contemporary Choral
Street Song / Community Engagement

Instruments