sometimes it is nina simone talking about overt and rage.hey try to say it is a communist plot, all i want is the quality or my sister, my brother, my people, and me ♪ >> that history continues today. you look at the race relations monae isuntry, janelle writing songs about walter scott, michael garner, trayvon martin, michael brown. using her popularity and her voice to make a statement. >> ♪ we are going to be all right ♪ >> kendrick lamar at the bt bet awards has this over all right song that uses his celebrity and popularity to get movement to the black lives matter movement. still to this day, this music and these artists provide a voice to people who might not always be heard otherwise. >> we are presenting this exhibit not as a look at artists res but asose -- gene , a look at our culture through the lens of rock 'n roll. this is a powerful artform that has the ability to help us process things. it helps bring a voice to people who might not otherwise be heard. it helps us work through some of the most important conversations in ameri

he had met nina simone in the '50s when she was a student. as a student, she arranged for hughes to come and speak to all the children in the town, and then the school -- which was a premier african-american boarding school for girls at that time -- hosted the event. so that was the first time she had ever met langston hughes. and she took the poem, and they made it into a song. and it's one of the most famous renditions of the song was on her enough said, nina simone album, but this is an 8-track. and at that time when he died, when langston hughes died, she put in the song, you know, when langston hughes died and she talked about how he encouraged her to be the best artist that she could be. so from then on, she would encourage him, and she even would, you know, talk about him when she would perform the song. she would ad lib about him a little bit. i think that mr. white would be pleased with what we've done here. highlighting a citizen of, a person who lived in cleveland for a number of years and his not only contributions to the world, b

they have us translating nina simone songs in school to learn the language."nother day she comes home, and she says, "today i was in class"-there's, you know-like there's tons of people going to france, so there was an afghani boy in her clalass, who in the middle of class, he gets in trouble because his phone rings. he runs out and comes back crying. and the teacher explains-after he explains to the teacher, who was algerian, what w went down, the teacher explains to the class, "he's crying because his family was just killed by your country." that's what she says to my daughter. and so, she comes home and tells me this story. i say, "well, what didid you do" she was like, "i sat with him at lunch and d told him, 'i'm'm sor.. i'm not ththat kind ofmemerican" it makes me want to cry. but it was so bizarre for her to be exposed to, you know, the sort of reality that our foreign policy imposes on others that-you know, that we're shielded from here. amy goodman: saul williams, you have a song on your latest album, "homes/ drones/ poems/ d drums." saul williams: ye

he had written this poem and he was friends with the singer nina simone. he had met her in the 50s when she was a student at the alex school. assisted she arranged for him to come and speak to all the children in the town, and then the school which was a premier african-american boarding school for girls at that time hosted the event. so that was the first time she'd ever met langston hughes. she took the palm and they made it into a song. it's one of the most famous renditions of the songs was on her enough said, nina simone album. but this is a track. at that time, we langston hughes died, she put in the song, when langston hughes died and she talked about how he encouraged her to be the best artist that she could be. so from then on she would encourage them, and and she even would, you know, talk about him when she would perform the song. she would at length about him a little bit. i think that mr. white would be pleased with what we've done here. highlighting a citizen of, a person who lived in cleveland for a number of years, and he is not only contri

. ♪ [music break] 22nd century" by nina simone. this is democracy now!democracynow.org -- we are breaking with convention: war, peace, and the presidency. i'm amy goodman. juan gonzalez appeared juan: the democratic national convention gets underway today. 50,000 visitors are descending upon the city am including delegates, the media, and activist's. many will see god well-known historic sites such as the liberty bell and independence hall, just a couple blocks away of there, the site signing of the declaration of independence, and the u.s. constitution. for local residents and he looked officials, they hope to bring a digital lesson on site in the city of brotherly love, philadelphia's chinatown, one of the last loan come communities of color in this inner-city corridor. the area has lost one-third of its housing and half of its land to development projects over the last few decades. urban renewal and gentrification threatens to displace residents. amy: at the last 15 years, chinatown's residents have organized and fought back thomas successfully fendin

nina simone talking about rage. >> ♪ the lines and boycotts, they try to say it is a communist plot,r my sister, my brother, my people, and me ♪ >> that history connects today. janel monae is out there writing songs about walter scott, michael garner, trayvon martin, michael brown. they are making a statement. >> ♪ we are going to be all right ♪ >> kendrick lamar at the bet awards has this overt "all right" song that uses his celebrity and popularity to get movement to the black lives matter movement. these artists provide a voice to people who might not always be heard otherwise. >> we are presenting this exhibit not as a look at artists or genres, but as a look at our culture through the lens of rock 'n roll. this is a powerful artform that has the ability to help us process things. it helps us work through some of the most important conversations in american culture. >> our cities tour staff recently traveled to cleveland to learn about its rich history. learn more about the city and other stops on on our tour online. you are watching american history tv.

i saw nina simon at howardd university when i was a child.ld i don't think i fully appreciated back then> what do you think about thiso can you turn it up? >> this is not by accident. >> ♪ >> oh, yeah. yh first nation's girl who wrote ww that with joe cocker and jeffan niece see. doesn't it bring back goodac g memories. >> i get goose pimples. >> me too.e too >> only two things come fromgsef oklahoma. >> don't say it. >> this is our version may havey yo nace for you.yo n >> only two things come fromtwos d.c. beautiful people and good weather.. >> mayo, that's for shoe. for s. i love it. >> we're here with lou gosset, jr., thank you very much.an >> its my pleasurek .ur >> thai with us, right, tuck.,uc >> we may not be back for couple of hours.of hou so hope you're prepared for lonn ride. >> as long as you findin crabcakes.ab >> we'll sing it. back to you guys. t g >> all right.ight >> might be referring to the old cellar -- >> mr. gosset, put your seat belt on.lt on. >> buckle him. make sure he's safe.af >> precious cargo.ous cgo. >> he's academy award royalty. l we'll let him do his thin