The Majesty of Tracy Chapman

Black women's voices are essential and powerful.

I don’t watch award shows much anymore. All too often the safe and saccharine win instead of music and film that rise to art — especially when that art is created by or involves Black musicians, actors, screenwriters, directors and producers. Awards miss the mark way too often. Out of Africa over The Color Purple? Green Book and not I BlackkKlansman? Even one white man’s incompetence tainted Barry Jenkins and his producers deserved Oscar Best Picture win for Moonlight.

Because I no longer hold the excitement and anticipation I carried as a child for these shows, I didn’t know the Grammy’s were on this week. Not until my husband told me about the phenomenal duet between Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs did I learn that the Grammys had occurred and Chapman had performed on them.