Maggie Brown, singer

Revolution: Why did you decide to perform on April 11?

Maggie Brown: Because I really want change. I mean the music that is pumped out the most now, particularly on Black radio stations, it feeds us what they need us to think, they feed us to buy whatever they're selling and, it's ridiculous and we just accept it. I feel when you're gifted, to have the gift of music and be able to inspire people, you do have a responsibility, not just to make money.

From what I know about it, who's going to be there, what kinds of things will be going on—I see it allows us to come together, of like mind. There might be variations of philosophy, but it allows like-minded people to come together, be reinforced, inspired by each other. It allows us to talk about this common page we could be on.

Revolution: What do you hope will happen with this event?

Brown: It could sort of centralize communication and the base of constituents—people coming together, people that can be reached again. When it's time to make a move to do something else, they're already sort of in a group, that people coming from different organizations will be inspired to take information out, to have that kind of viral effect. My perspective is that words are powerful, it's very important, that the images we see, the music we hear, they need to be guided.

Revolution: Why should people be there on April 11?

Brown: In the words of one poet, the action be the dialect of liberation. It's action, standing up, it's not just saying you will, it's actually standing up. In the 60s, we would actually fight for an issue until we got results. We can't just tweet this. And so why be there? Because there's a spirit, a vibration that is caused by this action, by these souls coming together and to be there and catch that spirit, be infected by that spirit, it's strengthening—something you can't get by just hearing about it.

Revolution: Have you had a chance to see the book BAsics?

Brown: I'm new to Avakian and his quotes, but I'm impressed by him. His language and ability to state it real plain. And so far what I've read of the book, I agree with a lot of things that he says, the situation of Black people and so forth. And I think the book, his quotations, it's like sometimes people feel a certain way but they don't know how to articulate it. He's articulated some things that are needed and makes it accessible, more tangible. Sometimes the voiceless need a voice, they know it's wrong but they don't know how to say it in a way that can be heard and comprehended. But I was very glad I was sent a copy so I can look more into it…

It's so deep. I did get into the pages—the quote that says, "if you can conceive of a world without America,"—get your head around that. Then that's a baby step that's a necessary thing. It is hard to do, your mind fills with all kinds of question—what would you do… how would this happen, what about this? We've been so damn indoctrinated, we're so damn used to things.

The youth—I would say that they need to come catch the vibe. They're being inundated with a lot of cover up and as the poets of the Funky Wordsmyths put it, "Feed your child the truth/We gotta raise more inedible youth." They're not getting the truth and it's hard to operate and run your life and your goals when you're starting with a foundation of lies. And so I often say, everything they're selling we don't need to buy…

Send us your comments.

If you like this article, subscribe, donate to and sustain Revolution newspaper.