Toshi Reagon, mighty singer of folk-blues-rock-funk-and-everything-else, has performed this song in a variety of different ways. When she played it as her concert opener at the Celebrate Brooklyn music festival that Michelle and I attended years ago, it was a full-on rock 'n' roll stomp, elevated by the glorious backing vocals and powerhouse sound of her band BIGLovely. "Kindness" was the first thing I ever heard her sing, and I've never forgotten it. It's been a recurring song in my personal mental soundtrack ever since, floating up to the surface every once in a while, as if to reorient my compass toward what matters.
Here's the solo acoustic version she recorded for Smithsonian Folkways -- less rock, more folk, and just as stirring. May kindness, given and received, fill your day today and every day.
BONUS: Reagon is the daughter of the equally mighty Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, who -- among many other things -- is the founder of the legendary Sweet Honey in the Rock. Another of my favorite tracks off the Kindness album, "Where You Gon Be Standin'," pays homage to Dr. Reagon's own "There's a New World Coming" -- both singing of solidarity and the promise of change.
Mother and daughter are also collaborators on an operatic adaptation of Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler's prophetic science fiction novel about climate change and societal breakdown -- and a girl who has a vision for change, and tries to lead her community there. I highly recommend reading more about it in this extensive interview, as well as watching the video below, where Toshi and others discuss the creation of the show. I had the great fortune of seeing a staging of it with a friend (thanks for the ticket, Sarah!) and was blown away by the marriage of Butler's story and the Reagons' music: resonant with the history of Black resistance, and deeply inspiring in its commitment to love and perseverance in the endless task of fixing a broken world. I'd love to see how the show has evolved when it comes around again.
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Listen to the Spotify playlist here.
Watch the YouTube playlist here.