Beautiful Brother of Mine
_________________
Leroy Moore, Jr.
April 2007 marks ten years and six months since Curtis Mayfield s last album, New World Order, October 1996. Although I m only thirty-eight I remember my mother playing Superfly, Freddie s Dead, Ms. Black America and Pusherman. At that time I was too young to grasp his social justice lyrics about the Black community but now my music collection is overflowing with Mr. Mayfield. At 38, I wished I had a chance to talk to my elder, Curtis Mayfield especially after his 1990 accident that left him a paraplegic. As a disabled African American poet and activist, I have turned to Mayfield s life, activism and poetry many times as inspiration and to keep me focus. Although I didn t have a chance to meet him, I truly miss him and his poetic lyrics. As I walked pass Mayfield s little section in Rasputin s Music in Berkeley, I made a mistake and asked when is Mayfield coming out with a new album? By the time those words left my mouth I shook my head at my question. I picked up his 1996 album, New World Order, this was his last album and it hit me it has been ten years. I played New World Order so much that I had to buy a new copy.
I don t want to rehash what has been said and written about Curtis Mayfield on my ten year tribute of his last CD and his life. There can be books on top of books written about Mayfield s last album, i.e., the way he reentered the music industry with his disability but how he continued with his social justice lyrics on songs like, Just A Little Bite of Love, I Believe in You and Back to Living Again. He was celebrating life and continuing to push us to strive for a better world. To know how and why Mayfield produced, New World Order, I beg you to read Peter Burns book, Curtis Mayfield: People Never Give Up.
I want to focus on Mayfield s experience with disability throughout his life. Thanks for Peter Burn s book I learned that Mayfield s association to disability didn t start in 1990. When I read that his brother, Kirby, was developmentally disabled and relied on his big brother for care and a role model, I instantly pulled out his song, Beautiful Brother of Mine, and wondered was he also talking about his blood brothers, especially Kirby who died at age 18? Did his family experience of disability play a part in Mayfield writing of, That What Momma Say and What Would You Do for Walter Jackson who had Polio and performed on crutches in the late sixties and early seventies?
His accident in 1990 brought disability once again to Mayfield s life till he passed away but he didn t go the way of many artists who become disabled: you know, looking for a cure and becoming a spokesperson for the medical industry. However unlike many famous artists who become disabled later in life, Mayfield was an activist and had family ties to disability before becoming famous. It may be because of his family and activism he didn t go the way of looking for a cure. Just listen to New World Order from beginning to end and you will hear his celebration of life.
Although in a 1997 interview with Chris Wells of Time Out in London, England, Mayfield said, I m a 54-year-old quadriplegic and there s not too much demand for that these days. According to Peter Burns, Mayfield had projects in the works like his own rap label, Conquest, his first interview after his accident, possibility of a documentary and a new album, but because of poor health these projects never became reality. Mayfield s song Back to Living on New World Order was what he was doing, living he and gave us his poetry with a deep message! Although the process of making New Word Order took a lot out of him, you could never tell by listening to this extraordinary piece of art! I can t believe it s been ten years since this artist\activist passed away! We, as Black and disabled Americans must listen to Mayfield s lyrics and continue to build this New World Order.
Rest In Peace, My Beautiful Brother of Mine, Curtis Mayfield.
Leroy
F. Moore Jr.
4/9/07
www.leroymoore.com
