#NinaSimone was an #AfricanAmerican #singer, #pianist, and #civilrights #activist. Nina was a piano playing prodigy, and dedicated nearly every hour of her early years to practicing. When she was rejected from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia because of her race, it scarred her in a way that would last the rest of her life. Since she wasn't accepted to school, she had to find a way to make money, and that is how Eunice Kathleen Waymon became Nina Simone. I always have strong emotions when I look at or think of Miss Simone. You can see how hopeful she was as a young woman, and the deep sadness when she was older. Despite carrying all this sadness ( she was so fed up with racism in the USA that she moved to France ) she still worked to try and help others see their own beauty and worth, even if she herself was constantly being told she was ugly and worthless. (Many of the women in this series struggled with feeling ugly since they didn't fit eurocentric beauty standards.) Nina Simone was beautiful, strong, and amazing. Her birthday was yesterday and she would have been 85. Happy birthday Nina! 🎂 • • • • • #gouache #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #beauty #portrait #headwrap #regal #artcommunity #goodgouache #feminist #rebelgirls #illustratedwomen #illustration