Why Mickey Guyton Is Necessary
“Sitting at home and watching the world burn down around me during this pandemic led me to write ‘Heaven Down Here’,” Mickey Guyton said in a statement. “It is a song asking God to spare a little love for this world in need. This song came from the very depths of my heart and has given me a renewed sense of self. It has real raw emotion and was written with a therapeutic intent of healing my heart. I hope that everyone can hear that intent and receive the same healing.” (cmt.com)
“Heaven Down Here” is a song that many of us can deeply relate to, as it expresses emotions and frustrations that arise when things are happening unexpectedly and outside of our control. Guyton wrote this authentic piece to describe her own personal reckoning but in doing so, she gave an empathetic voice to us all.
Guyton became the first Black female solo artist to earn a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Solo Performance (2021) for the powerful tune, “Black Like Me.” This track emphatically speaks to the hardships of racism in this country and deserved many more awards quite frankly.
My younger brother introduced me to Mickey Guyton’s music during Black History Month last year as I was searching for tunes to add to our Wit + Grace Music Monday playlist. So, I was ecstatic to learn that she was selected to sing The National Anthem at this year’s Superbowl game. As I listened to her library, the honest, yet humble tone of “Heaven Down Here” immediately resonated with me.
As I listened to this song, my own moments of questioning God came to mind as I sought peace in the midst of my own personal storms. I was reminded of the desperate times I have reached out to God for answers. In recently losing my father, and dealing with other hardships, I understand the emotions in trying to make sense of catastrophic chaos.
“Hey God, it’s me
I hate to be a bother
But I could use a minute or two
Yeah, I’m just so
Heartbroken, disappointed
In the way this world is coming unglued
And I can’t help but wonder are you”
“Black Like Me” is a song that speaks to a truth Guyton has had to constantly fight against. Even recently, she shared a post someone wrote that claimed she was being used as a token in the country music community. This is why Mickey Guyton is necessary. Her music speaks to injustices wherever they take place. She uses her words to break down the sinful barriers racism creates. She is okay with getting into the “good trouble” that Rep. John Lewis talked about and encouraged, combating the oppression systemic racism has maintained on all fronts.
If you think we live in the land of the free, you should try to be Black me… Just to live that good life, mm, It shouldn't be twice as hard.
Black artists are not new to country music. Linda Martell, Rissi Palmer, Rhiannon Giddens, and Sunny War are just a few of many Black country singers that have had longstanding careers in this genre. Palmer paved the way for Guyton at Capital Records even, as she discussed here. The significant problem is the artists in the Black community are not usually recognized by mainstream country music platforms. In the PBS series, “Black Artists Helped Build Country Music—And Then It Left Them Behind” by Ken Burns, Burns speaks to this important, often left out, historical fact. (Time.com)
“... one of the series’ central tenets is that country music has always been home to African-American artists.”
Sadly, much of Guyton’s criticism and hateful correspondence has come from White Christians. In early 2021, Guyton received a slew of hate mail after calling out the industry‘s racism and sexism. As a Christian, she was deeply disappointed in receiving such harsh words from members of her own faith community. All of these challenges seem to only propel Guyton’s mission and calling forward. Representation of the Black community is in the heart of everything she accomplishes. I believe Mickey Guyton will continue to use her platform to amplify Black voices in the country music genre, and beyond.
Learn more about Mickey Guyton here.
Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.
