(July 12, 2020) As Juneteenth continues to reverberate through our society, singer/songwriter Mahoganee returns to provide a song that offers equal doses of perspective and hope. “1619” details experiences of black women while giving context to 400 years of challenges that slavery in the United States provided.
Inspired by The 1619 Project and Podcast, “1619” starts off detailing ancestors being taken from their homeland and brought to an area with which they are not familiar. It moves to women that are forced to not be who they really want to be. The song then evolves into an empowering verse, celebrating what has happened in our past. The effectiveness of the lyrical development is more profound thanks to a musical arrangement that relies on strings, and drums, giving Mahoganee room to have her vocals convey the passion needed for this song.
A true example of turning a tragic events into a triumph of a song, “1619” by Mahoganee will make you think, but will also make you thankful that you heard it.
By Keivu Knox
