When we have greatness in our midst, honor must be paid. But what happens when that greatness is taken away from us? How do we honor them then?
Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre recently answered that question when it presented a tribute to the late Micki Grant in a special presentation called “Micki Grant: Step Into My World.” The Castillo Theatre on 42nd Street was the place to be to listen to Grant’s lovely voice singing songs from her album “Lovin’ Kind of Woman.”
When we think of Micki Grant, we think of the first Black woman to do the book, music, and lyrics to a Broadway show with “Don’t Bother I Can’t Cope” and the creator of “Your Arms Too Short To Box With God,” but this lady was so much, much more.
The actor, composer, writer, and singer, who was born Minnie Louise Perkins in Mississippi and died in 2021 at the age of 92, was a distinctive icon in the Black community for decades and left her mark on her people.
Sitting in this very intimate theater, the audience stepped into Micki Grant’s world, not just hearing her singing so beautifully the songs she wrote, but also hearing never-before-shared poetry and other writings of hers that were found by her nephew Daryl Walker in her estate. When he said that these poems, songs, and other writings existed, Grant’s longtime friend Nora Cole was inspired to compile, direct, and perform in a very special program to honor Grant and share her creative greatness with the world.
It was delightful and moving to experience Cole, Ebony Marshall Oliver, and Debra Walton singing songs from Grant’s work and performing her powerful writings, filled with messages like “if we refuse to kiss the dream goodbye, we can change the world today,” a sentiment from her song “Step Into My World.” We saw a picture of Grant’s personal and creative journey in life and realized that her gift was that she put words to issues that faced the Black community.
Grant appreciated people who were real and sincere. She wrote with deep feelings about experiences like going to see her elderly grandmother, who didn’t recognize her.
RELATED: New Federal Theatre presents tribute to Micki Grant, March 21–25 only
This production presented a history of Grant that I don’t think many people knew. We learned of her professional journey—first being cast in “Tamborines to Glory” which led to TV opportunities. When asked how she felt once she had made it, and was famous thanks to her photo being featured in the subway, Grant was as humble and honest as ever.
Grant’s writings during this love fest were full of love, bravery, and passion.
She covered topics that are engaging and did so in a compassionate and non-judgmental way. This brilliant, passionate lady wrote about her wonderful ability to give love and to receive it. And she loved to honor the ancestors, like Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday, and their gifts.
Grant was an advocate for our people of all generations. She didn’t shy away from controversial topics—she wrote pieces about the evils of war, especially American soldiers dying in foreign lands. Growing up and being raised in Mississippi, Grant saw many atrocities that happened to Black people and she made it her business to call out these wrongs in her work. She called out the racist white people who hanged Black people from trees. She wanted people not to kill another preacher, as Jesus had been killed and then Dr. Martin Luther King. She was candid about the fact that the American Dream was a false hope for Black Americans. She made it her business to sound a battle cry for change.
When it came to the sacrifices and compromises that Black people make to be in this business, Grant did not softsoap what we have to do at times to get opportunities, and how that could mean having a dream and not seeing it fulfilled the way you dreamed it would be.
Cole, Oliver, and Walton delivered gorgeous, spirited, and memorable performances of Grant’s songs and poetry, leaving the audience with a feeling of having spent time in the world of a woman who truly loved her people, stood up for her people, looked at the world with vividly clear lenses, called out the atrocities, and sent out a rallying call.
Grant is sorely missed, but her work—and the sharing of it at events such as this one—keep her alive in our hearts and minds. It’s important that she be ever-present, lest we forget her brilliance, deep love for her people, and hope that we try to work toward making things better.
As a Black community, we have to stick together and bring each other up. We also always have to pay homage to the ancestors who came before and paid their dues so we could have the opportunities that we have today. God bless Micki Grant for always looking out for us.
