Curtis Mayfield We are the People Darker Than Blue

[tigner1]

I'd forgotten this song. How I miss real music, with real meaning like this. No profanity for shock value just real music.

[oldschoolbx1970]

If I were a renegade program director at any Black radio station in America(especially NYC),I would become bold enough to play this one.

[ZuriSpeaksRadio]

@oldschoolbx1970 I am bold enough to play it on my show!

[oldschoolbx1970]

@ZuriSpeaksRadio Thanks for sharing that one with me. Now that's the spirit of someone who knows what real music is.

[KillaTones1]

Jay Z sampled this beat.

[carolinaharris]

I love this song, But J. Cole version is amazing also. J. COle Carolina on my mind. Im from Fayetteville NC so i rep J. Cole to the fullest. But their songs are both amazing. I FREAKING LOVE IT

[SaintMu]

Now who the hell are those jive suckas disliking this here joint? I mean no disrespect, y'all right to dig whatever it is that you dig, but damn, ain't Mr Mayfield that pure touch of genius we should all be agreeing on? Just the fact that this vid gets less than a million views is an outrageous wrong that we need to right.

[puffs555]

J. Cole. Genius Sample.

[PieandBiscuits]

@puffs555 Seriously, J. Cole had some great samples on the Come up and Warm Up, and Friday Night Lights for that matter. He's got some great taste, kind of miss his old style tho..

[Rabshakeh9]

We are a people so disjointed and so far moved from reality that most of us don't even realize that our roots extend to a country slightly north of the continent of Africa. Our ancestors were dispersed from that country for their blatant and consistent disobedience to the Most High. Since that dispersment we have become an enigma, a byword and a hiss; a perpetual wondering to the nations of the world. Who are we really? What is our title and our ultimate destiny?

[thesunwillshineonme]

I am embarrassed to say that my 13 yr old son is more into this music than I am, I appreciate the fact that he has good taste in music, he is an old soul. Love the drums in the background.

[duckmansoul]

@zakkyvicious1, I'm pretty sure it's not on Superfly but the album "Curtis". Great album, obviously.

[FranklinCastle]

How can 4 people dislike this?

[zakkyvicious1]

do you know where i can find this version? i can't seem to find it on any of his album's? please help me

[bigtwin393]

@zakkyvicious1 i believe its the superfly album

[Indepeoplemusic]

Say: hell. mother. fucking. yeah...

Curtis, basically the most under-appreciated musician of the last century.

[bilizza09]

carolina on my mind.

[blackcaesar3k5]

this song is definitely wake up call for our people!!!!!!!!!

[mschrean]

such truth spun into a wonderful beat

[jooooool100]

unbelievable song .that's all what I could say

[123akhetaten]

A people's Cultural Self-Image, to the extent that it's positive, will determine it's ability to achieve Social and Focused Economic Power. When was the last time you heard a Jew call another Jew a "kike"? They embrace their Jewishness above all else! It's given them Social and Economic Power. Until we embrace our African Culture as sacred, we will always have the Self-Image of a Colonized People! and see ourselves thru the eyes of those who wish us to remain sleep and divided against each other

[mightybee101]

@123akhetaten so true and beautifully said

[acr08807]

@123akhetaten Yes, we Jews have embraced our Jewishness the way you have embraced Initial Capital Letters.

[oldschoolbx1970]

@123akhetaten So true indeed.

[123akhetaten]

We "The Wretched of the Earth" will we continue 2 party and chase an early grave or Stand up! turn off the TV go outside and face it & make the world know who we are! We have a special destiny, what it is i can't really say, but I saw a glimpse of it during the sixties & it changed America! A "Cultural Revolution" was turned into a fashion trend by the racist media! We went back to sleep. Wigs,weaves & colored contacts, can someone say re-brainwashed! Cultural self-esteem is power! Luv yours

[mightybee101]

@123akhetaten so true 

[TheRarewoman]

sang Curtis 

[FatirBeats]

J cole used this! on "The Come Up" I thinks its called Carolina On My Mind

[Elisa4Realz]

@FatirBeats Yup, that he did[: I love him.

[iAmSAMJY]

pardon me - sas

[ROCKNROLLFAN]

this is a great song coming from such an empowering activist.

[ROCKNROLLFAN]

and then if you asked them "excuse me what did you say"......they will be like....."Oh....I said whats happening brother....or something like that" with a smirk......Racism and Bigotry is still obvious in georgia and I dont let none of it have an effect on me.

[ROCKNROLLFAN]

I am a dark skinned black man and I can remember in the mid 80's when I was in elementary school that if you were a light skinned brother....you got a lot of respect and black girls and white girls chased after you and thought that you were a stud and if you were dark skinned brother.....they considered you an ugly joker. Even to this day....at my job...here in atlanta,georgia.....there are white people that still tell racist jokes and some white people even greet you saying " whats up boy"

[nigerachi92]

This is one on the greatest songs ever, as a young black male I keep my head up from music like this. No one captured the time like Curtis.

[JTBLACKMAN43]

We as africans darkskin or lightskin why could we get alone ha ? We are the same ok africans all around the world im pleading no more genocide between each other lets build our foundation now for our children right now & the rest of us. Keep on pressing on for our rights show the world what we as africans in the world are make it thats important peace.

[revlutionizer]

There is a different between black and white compare to white.

[lustreboy]

I love this song so much, it properly sends shivers down the back of my spine!!!

Love ya Curtis!! RIP

[crysisnov]

Raekwon - Dart School

[freezergang1]

as a young black male i can say i know who i am as a black man and i am fully aware of the adversity and hatred othere have against us..but this excessive amount of melanin and this coarse hair,broad nose,thick lips and soul is alot to be proud of!! we are the first one's,the original nubian descendant.......thx curtis

[suchstrangecandy]

@freezergang1 It's so unfair that someone of color should have to walk out of their door, and face the possibility of disrespect, or worse, because of their race. In fact, it's so sad that any of us have knee-jerk reactions of mistrust and dislike because of race and culture. I'm so sorry for that. Conversely, my classmates and I, in small-town TX, also humiliated and ran off the KKK from their annual assembly on the courthouse lawn, in 1991. There is hope, and I believe. =)

[LuvDrakeLuvCole]

This is still so relevant

[TropicalShirtTy]

I like Superfly and No Thing On Me better than this one, but the instrumentals aren't so bad

[illholla84]

tears begin to well just hearing the first few moments of this.... 

[crazedpat1]

I'm only 24 born in 1986 and this songs still resonates in my generation! maybe no one else my age knows it but.. i do

[freezergang1]

i salute curtis mayfield for speaking on the truth the way he did...black is eternity and eternity is infinite so black is forever!!!!

[MrLisaFischer]

@freezergang1

True. Black is strength. Black is absolutely beautiful.

[roc06909]

22 & i love his music

[1234tric]

Thank you my brother!

[GeorgeLRockwell87]

Great song. I think that it's time to throw int he towel for Black folks though. I know that I have, personally.

[1HRJR]

@GeorgeLRockwell87 Black folks weep.



[emmettk]

"Now I know we have great respect __ for the sister and mother, it's even better yet __ But there's the joker in the street ... lovin' one brother, and killin' the other. __ When the time comes, and we are really free ... there'll be no brothers left, you see?" ...____________ "Pardon me brother- I know we've come a long,long way. __ But let us not be so "satisfied" .... for tomorrow can be an even brighter day." -Curtis Mayfield

[kahini]

Amen



[reklaws52]

@SimbaWM Yes I agree. And Curtis wouldn't have been in favor of it. He was not a hater. His music was full of love and influenced modern music such as hip-hop, some of which is great.

[congotronics]

best song in the world

[Ludwig1936]

One of the best songs ever written. How I miss your music.

Curtis Mayfield wrote some of the best music ever.

None of these artists now and days can even come close.

R.I.P. Mr. Mayfield

[beselbic]

Amazing song.

[SatansSon01]

this is a great song, it calms me and my sons in a very racist oklahoma town full of white and indian racist{Skiatook} a fake christian town full of devils

[qmh1992]

18 and loving this song!!!

[sortofsorted]

one love !!!...

[BitOveRate]

Preaching should be left to songs instead of other means, i'm no fanatic about religion for or against, but this music is rightfully Curtis's so in that respect he should be able to get whatever message he feels he needs to get across because no man aside from Curtis can make you feel so optimistic and soulful.

[BLACKFIST1965]

PEACE CURTIS-A TRUE MESSENGER............

[milkydrops]

what album is this on?

[WARNSKI]

@milkydrops its simply called curtis.........

[energypower1]

EPIC mastery - highs lows rises falls , just beautiful music

[SmooveHNIC]

Usher feat. Jay-Z Best thing sampled this

[BitOveRate]

@SmooveHNIC great music always get sampled i could of told you that

[prettyboyswag317]

@SmooveHNIC no its jay z tru life

[SmooveHNIC]

@prettyboyswag317 ok but they used the sample again...its be recycled quite a few times

[prettyboyswag317]

@SmooveHNIC yea rap n r&b was heavily influenced by this classic generation

[prettyboyswag317]

@SmooveHNIC o yea u gotta admit jay z version sound better den usher

[Ludwig1936]

All the artists that sample from these timeless works, don't know how to write or make a song. That's why they have to sample.

[souldisciple]

@Ludwig1936 Some of us cats sample cuz we want to keep the sound alive and some of us also learn to play this stuff. The best music eva made was from these greats! Sampling kept this music alive and many of these artists still relevant.

[Ludwig1936]

@souldisciple Appreciate the feed back.

[943ab]

Thank you Curtis, for your wisdom and love for your ancestry as well as your fellow man! Our reality may not be reflecting this strength for many reasons ....It is still here

and those who know your music have received your message Loud and Clear!

I love you and I love your music...May the Spirit of God return to our hearts and bring us love, charity, harmony and Faith. Amen

[omoroomoro]

We are the People Darker Than Blue - So was Great Grandma X22 Generations. Grandma was hairy, blue black and her knuckles dragged the ground, but she no longer climbed trees. Are we too far removed to love Grandma??? Hey Grandma, your progeny is represented by all hues, but some deny you Grandma. One Love, WE ARE ALL AFRICANS and all human.

[pisamojo]

! person needs to do some soul searching

[Minatour1]

I can not think of any song that resonates more today than this one. We all need to listen to this one everyday!

[lbra3]

TIMELESS!!!

[datkidepik93]

Teedra Moses-You Already Know too..

[PharoahsKingdom]

J . Cole used this sample for his song "Carolina On My Mind" on The Come Up mixtape.

Tru Life used this sample for his song "Tru Life Intro" feat Jay-Z on the Tru York mixtape

[ThePrhymeElement]

@PharoahsKingdom and Nujabes samples it on "Imaginary Folklore" also

[minrehotep9]

you have know idea how long i have waited to for this version

[chakafan2]

Beautiful. Thank you Curtis.

[achromat666]

Like most of Curtis' music, it resonates powerfully in this very time. People have lost their sense of identity, black and otherwise. We can't gather together to find for what needs to change and accept more and more the ridiculous stereotypes that have plagues us for decades, just in more subtle ways than when this song was written.

Our collective struggle has not changed, and no one knows what to do. Curtis's message needs to be heard now more than ever.

[PotJericho]

well put

[ekim1451]

I loved this man way back .........Its my 60th Birthday today 01.04.1951 and I been listening to him since the early 60's with the Impressions...Curtis made his point very early on with such great songs like "Choice of Colors" and the B side was just as poignant "Might Might Spade and Whitey" and even further back in the late 50's and early 60's with songs like Keep on Pushin' and Meeting over Yonder people just missed the point even back then but he was a subtle guy who was proud of his skin

[Ludwig1936]

@achromat666 You are so right. These young people now and days don't have a sense of unity. No regards to live. Killing each other for no reason. Back in the days people stuck together. Yes they did struggle but we had unity and togetherness. Looked out for each other and our kids. Now everybody just looks out for themselves. I agree that Curtis's message needs to be heard now more than ever.

[inama2amani]

@achromat666 I concur with your comment! Curtis Tells black people what to do in the song with outro. Although this message came out thirty + years ago it resonates for All Peoples and All Nations around this Globe today. In fact if we were to put into actions the message in this song, we would experience the Heaven Utopia we long for!

peace

[glong86]

@achromat666 Very well stated, nothing but truth.

[123akhetaten]

@achromat666 Tell it like it is!!!

[3rdbass618]

AZ - Good For Nothin'

[SS65chevy]

The man the legend the myth,,,,befor his time,,,,he was a true profit and we should take heed. It won't be televised........

[emmettk]

This is more than music- It's poetry. An open letter to those who don't understand the term "self-determination.

[1000sticman]

great song

[kibbit1]

Pure Soul!

[derwuppertaler]

Fantastic!

[Sandra95345]

Unity and understanding, I love this song and its message, for all people in the struggle. A message for ALL times.

[Sandra95345]

Unity and understanding, I love this song and its message, for all people in the struggle.

[MonsoonWinds6]

Such a good song. We need more "real" lyrics like this today

[Ludwig1936]

Mein Gott das ist wahre Musik. Solche Musik gibt es heute leider nicht mehr.

[SuperCleanheart]

Wisdom, intelligence and talent. This brother was and always will be a light for me. He told the truth no matter what. I miss him. He was one of the voices of the Civil Rights movement when I was a child.

[GodsS0N1]

Nice upload this is just awesome

[13spkr]

this jam can tell a lot 'bout a brotha' & sista'

[frtrdfthtd]

just amazing, i don't care if somebody sampled this song, this is pure music. Just listen

[D3V0LUTI0N]

been needin this version

[dikumbisakidila1]

Deep

[miskkaaa]

seulement 1961 vu...ouf manque de culture

[toyzalive]

LA FOUINE - RESTE TRANQUILLE

[Sinmatic0803]

cormega intro!!! 

[WupeViasco]

amazinnggg

[willbill808]

if you cant feel the soul your deaf.

[MrDJKaaz]

Jay-Z and Premier Tru Life Intro

[PotJericho]

Classic Just Classic