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Nia singing Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday at age 4

Uploaded by: cgoldsmith
Video Description:
Nia singing at age 4. I am Nia's mom. I have had some folks not understand why Nia is singing this. Nia is a little girl who listens to every word in a song...reason why I do not let her listen to the profane music that is out there and why Nia listens to mostly the old school...she even sings with the Grammy Award winning 70s group Earth Wind and Fire. See it on my page at www.youtube.com/user/cgoldsmith
I am a big fan of old school jazz. I played Strange Fruit in the car when Nia was about 3 and had no idea that she would listen to the lyrics so intently. I mean, most adults do not understand the nuances and meaning of this song because it is not literal...it is sung in a poetic vein. Not to brag on my child, but she is very perseptive and asked what the song meant. I just stated to her that sometimes people do bad things to others for no reason and that you should always treat others as you would want to be treated. Then she wanted to know what blood on the trees meant because she thought that "trees drink water" and she keep saying to me "mommy, I know that it has to be more than that because this song sounds so sad".
Nia is a very deep child and I like to be honest with her about things without being overly explicit. On the other hand, Jewish people have ALWAYS taught their children about the Holocaust...why? because they NEVER want that type of genocide to happen EVER again to their people. I grew up with a lot of Jewish children and they were taught about that from DAY ONE...even in Hebrew School and they were shown the number brands on the arms of their grandparents and told about the gas chambers....etc. No one says anything negative about that...so why is it wrong in this case
Slavery and Jim Crow were also a type of genocide. It is not too different from the Holocaust. It was the Holocaust of Blacks in America. This is not something that should be forgotten by anyone...my daughter included. It is part of her history and the story should be told...or it will be repeated over and over again.
Nia really feels this song and sometimes cries for her forefathers and foremothers when she sings it. She sings it so that they will not have died in vein, but for the fact that we still remember their spirits and will keep them alive in our hearts.
Think about it, at least Nia is learning something...at least I do not have her listening to the masogenistic booty shaking music that is out today. The music she listens to has a message. Before you judge, just listen to the stuff she does on my page.
However, I will thank you for your concern. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you for doing that.
Please look at my whole site to see what Nia is really about. www.youtube.com/user/cgoldsmith
You will see her on stage with Earth Wind and Fire in Vegas and singing mostly old school songs. She even starred in Mary J Blige's commercial on there and has been on Japanese TV. I try to send a message to young kids through Nia's music as follows;
1. There is nothing wrong with listening to music that is positive and or tells about your history. You don't need to listen to all the nasty booty shaking music that is out there...and to listen to other genres of music(Nia sings Portuguese songs, old school R and B songs,old school rock songs, and jazz.
2. Learn an instrument (Nia plays piano on youtube)
3. Children should be just that...children.. You do not have to look "grown" to be successful. Just be who you are. (Nia acts and dresses like a kid. No make up, no grown up hair...just a kid
4. Get an education. It is "cool" to be smart. (Nia reads in Spanish and English (above video) on youtube.) Nia goes to a full Spanish Immersion school and is an A student in 1st grade. She is 6 now and got into elementary school early.
Now all of this got started because I put these videos on youtube to show my out of town relatives what Nia was up to. I had no idea that she would get up to this day 8 million total hits and become the interest of folks around the world. However, her education comes first, but I try to hone her extra-curricular interests as well. Who knows, she may not want to do this when she is older and may want to be a Molecular Biologist like me (her mother)
Lastly, I do respect the words you said. I do hope you understand my points as well. Have a wonderful day.

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