"Images" by Nina Simone

Nina Simone's presence within the music industry is one of a kind. She was a strong advocate for racial justice, and her support of the civil rights movement in the 60s can be seen throughout her songs and poems

"Images" is a piece of hers that explores these themes. It is performed in spoken-word style and is featured on her album Let It All Out, which was released in 1966.

The song is written about a Black woman who is working as a maid or domestic worker. Due to her race and status in society, she is unable to feel free and instead is trapped in a mundane, dull life.

The lines "If she could dance naked under palm trees/And see her image in the river she would know/But there are no palm trees in the street/And dishwater gives back no images" reflect upon how the life she is forced to live has distorted her own self-worth. She does not have the privilege to dream about a free life because she is buried in her work.

This song resonated with thousands, and Nina Simone continued to perform it for years after it was released. Each time she performed this song, the audience could be seen in the background silent and attentive, listening as though they were either entranced by Simone's words, or in deep thought. Though it did not achieve extreme commercial success, as at the time it was seen as too outspoken, I think it deserves to be remembered today.