NINA SIMONEArtist, Activist, Icon

Conrelia Stokes

A House Hold Name•Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1993 in North Carolina.•She used her voice to speak out for her people•Dedicated her life to serve others whether it was in political acts or in her music•American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger,

Growing Up• Nina inspired to to a connect pianist, playing

the great classical• Nina's Parents were told they would have to

sit in the black when Nina performed, but Nina would not play until they were moved back to the front • Seeing the dynamics of her parents

relationship affected her relationship with Andy Stroud

The Start• Went to the Allen High school for Girls in Ashville North Carolina.• After graduating high school, with the help of hometown supporters and a scholarship she

went to Juilliard.• Nina Simone spent the summer of 1950 studying under Carl Friedberg preparing for her

audition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia Pennsylvania• Simone’s family relocated to Philadelphia in the expectation of her admittance to Curtis• After auditioning she was denied admission because she was black • Nina was never fully aware of racial prejudice until Curtis. Although she never reapplied she

continued to take private piano lesson with Vladimir Sokoloff, a professor at Curtis

The Night Club Life• To pay for private piano lessons, Simone

performed at a Bar in Atlantic City • The Owner of the club encouraged Nina to sing

as well as play the Piano to increase her income to $90 dollars a week

• In 1954, Nina Simone became Eunice Kathleen Waymon’s alias, so her mom would not find out she was ”playing the devil’s music”

• She had a voice like no other

The Start of A Career & A Family • Married Andy Stroud after meeting him in a club.• Andy had a well thought out plan for Nina's career became

very abusive later affecting her career• In 1963 Nina performed at Carnegie Hall, but was disappointed

she was playing her own music instead of classical music• Nina got a taste of fame and wanted all the nice things that

money could buy.• Bought her house in Mt. Vernon, New York• Her daughter born Lisa Celeste Stroud in September 12, 1962• She resented being away from her children, started to question

herself and eventually led to her depression

Oh What An Activist Miss Simone!• Throughout the 1960’s during the Civil Rights

Movement Nina used her voice to speak out for her people. She felt compelled to get involved

• “Mississippi Got Damn” was her response to the June 12, 1963, murder of Medgar Evers and the September 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama,

• She was a free spirit hat was not appreciated during the 1960’s

• She was penalized for being herself and eventually hindered her music career.

• She started to play only political songs, people were afraid to book her because they didn't know what she was going to say

• https://youtu.be/LJ25-U3jNWM

• “I choose to reflect the times and the situations in which I find myself “

• “How can you be an artist and not reflect the times?”

The Dwindle• People was always depending on her to

perform, even when she felt sick• Nina became violent and even had sex

attacks• She left Andy, no longer putting up with

the abuse, left the country, and moved to Liberia

• Started to become mentally and physically abusive to her daughter

• Nina was not making any money

Diagnosed • Nina moved to Switzerland because she

was not making any money in Africa • She was diagnosed with manic depressive

and bipolar disorders• The medicine that was prescribed was also

starting to effect her motor skills.• Everything was being scarified for the the

music • Started to have more a relationship with her

daughter

Last Chance…..• ”My Baby Cares for me” - was her second

chance• She performed all over Europe • She rarely traveled without an entourage,

but if you were fortunate enough to get to know the woman behind the music you could glimpse the solitary soul that understood the pain of being misunderstood.

• Settled in the South of France, 1993

Conclusion • In all, Nina Simone had an extraordinary life but she always

understood the importance of her music. Also from early aged she realized that performing was her only source of income. She had to continue to perform in order to provided for her family and herself. •All she wanted was to be free and live without fear.