Comments on: Asante Sana, New Ancestor Judy Dothard Simmons http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:54:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Todd Steven Burroughs http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1533 Todd Steven Burroughs Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:40:50 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1533 Barbara, I'd give away all of my 1960s Fantastic Four comicbooks to read a JDS essay on President-Elect Obama. We'll just have to listen closely for what her spirit might be saying in the wind, or late at night. Barbara, I’d give away all of my 1960s Fantastic Four comicbooks to read a JDS essay on President-Elect Obama. We’ll just have to listen closely for what her spirit might be saying in the wind, or late at night.

]]> By: Barbara Wilder http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1531 Barbara Wilder Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:47:13 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1531 Judy, I loved you, but in the last year of your life I wasn't there for you. I was consumed with my own life's drama. And your amazingly brilliant yet acid tongue had wounded me, making me retreat from you. But I always meant for us to reconnect. We met in college. We sang together in summer stock in Amador County, California. We helped form SNCC at Sacramento State together. We loved the same man. You were black, me white. I went to LA. You to New York. We came back together a few memorable times between 1966 and 1995. But we remained in each other's hearts. Then in 1995, while you were in Anniston taking care of your mother with Altzheimers we reconnected. But only on the phone with monthly, sometimes more, long and delightful talks that fed my soul, and I believe yours. You were more important to me than I think you ever realized. Now, it is Nov. 9, 2008. Six days ago the first black president of the United States of American was elected. I needed to talk to you. To celebrate with you. To say, look girl, it happened. All our work. All our care and belief has paid off. But you weren't there. Your phone was disconnected. I called another J. Simmons in Anniston, and a perfect stranger said, "Oh, yes, I read it in the paper. She died. I didn't know her, but she seemed like a wonderful person." And all I could say, was that, yes, she was a wonderful person. I got off the phone and cried for the loss of my friend, for the missed opportunity to share this miraculous moment, and for my own weakness that kept me from you during the final year of your life. But when the tears subsided, I remembered our deep spiritual connection, and I could feel your love, and hear you saying with that sly smile, "Oh, Barbara, my sister, you always make such a drama out of things." So, my dear sister, Judy Dothard Simmons, I love you. I know you are dazzling them up there on the higher planes with your brilliance, beauty, and talent, and I just want to say, keep the faith, baby. We did. And look where our world is. A black president, my friend. And you and your magnificent voice helped put him there. Barbara Judy, I loved you, but in the last year of your life I wasn’t there for you. I was consumed with my own life’s drama. And your amazingly brilliant yet acid tongue had wounded me, making me retreat from you. But I always meant for us to reconnect. We met in college. We sang together in summer stock in Amador County, California. We helped form SNCC at Sacramento State together. We loved the same man. You were black, me white. I went to LA. You to New York. We came back together a few memorable times between 1966 and 1995. But we remained in each other’s hearts. Then in 1995, while you were in Anniston taking care of your mother with Altzheimers we reconnected. But only on the phone with monthly, sometimes more, long and delightful talks that fed my soul, and I believe yours. You were more important to me than I think you ever realized. Now, it is Nov. 9, 2008. Six days ago the first black president of the United States of American was elected. I needed to talk to you. To celebrate with you. To say, look girl, it happened. All our work. All our care and belief has paid off. But you weren’t there. Your phone was disconnected. I called another J. Simmons in Anniston, and a perfect stranger said, “Oh, yes, I read it in the paper. She died. I didn’t know her, but she seemed like a wonderful person.” And all I could say, was that, yes, she was a wonderful person. I got off the phone and cried for the loss of my friend, for the missed opportunity to share this miraculous moment, and for my own weakness that kept me from you during the final year of your life. But when the tears subsided, I remembered our deep spiritual connection, and I could feel your love, and hear you saying with that sly smile, “Oh, Barbara, my sister, you always make such a drama out of things.” So, my dear sister, Judy Dothard Simmons, I love you. I know you are dazzling them up there on the higher planes with your brilliance, beauty, and talent, and I just want to say, keep the faith, baby. We did. And look where our world is. A black president, my friend. And you and your magnificent voice helped put him there.
Barbara

]]> By: Paulette http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1420 Paulette Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:15:32 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1420 Judy I remember when we were riding in your car and we came to a dead stop and it was the end of the road. I remember we laughed.I can hear the laughter still. Paulette Judy I remember when we were riding in your car and we came to a dead stop and it was the end of the road. I remember we laughed.I can hear the laughter still.
Paulette

]]> By: Paulette http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1419 Paulette Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:02:38 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1419 Judy it has been along time since we spoke, but I always thought that I'd see you again. Peace my friend Judy it has been along time since we spoke, but I always thought that I’d see you again.
Peace my friend

]]> By: Mark http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1333 Mark Sun, 11 May 2008 22:06:26 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1333 <p>To whomever this concerns,</p> <p>I was saddened to learn of the death of Judy Simmons. I don't even know how old she was.</p> <p>She died, coincidentally enough, on my birthday of May 6th.</p> <p>I had heard her a few times on WLIB. I'm a White person, and have had almost nothing but contempt for the so-called Struggle against Racism, (with few and far-between exceptions here and there) of which that station was part and parcel, but still, she seemed like a nice-enough person. I was rather rigid at the time, in expressing myself (a result of my extreme reaction to the above-named), and left her with the impression that it had been better off that we (as individuals) had not met. I was actually referring, at the time, to the races, and not the two of us, but we got off on the wrong foot, to put it mildly. Even THAT perspective doesn't come close to representing my attitude(s) towards integration, which is rather complex. It is truly a "mixed bag", and my views are a bit too complex to be gone into in any great detail now. I did try to clarify my views with her some time afterwards, but she was soon due to go on stage for some stint, and she was not particularly receptive towards me. I wish I had gotten another opportunity, so that at least, she would know "where I was coming from", but unfortunately, now, that is (to use another cliche) "water under the bridge". By the way, somehow her name just popped into my head today, and I decided to do a google for "judy Simmons WLIB" and I learned of her death that way, though I'm far from being especially psychuc.</p> <p>Yours truly,</p> <p>Mark</p> To whomever this concerns,

I was saddened to learn of the death of Judy Simmons. I don’t even know how old she was.

She died, coincidentally enough, on my birthday of May 6th.

I had heard her a few times on WLIB. I’m a White person, and have had almost nothing but contempt for the so-called Struggle against Racism, (with few and far-between exceptions here and there) of which that station was part and parcel, but still, she seemed like a nice-enough person. I was rather rigid at the time, in expressing myself (a result of my extreme reaction to the above-named), and left her with the impression that it had been better off that we (as individuals) had not met. I was actually referring, at the time, to the races, and not the two of us, but we got off on the wrong foot, to put it mildly. Even THAT perspective doesn’t come close to representing my attitude(s) towards integration, which is rather complex. It is truly a “mixed bag”, and my views are a bit too complex to be gone into in any great detail now. I did try to clarify my views with her some time afterwards, but she was soon due to go on stage for some stint, and she was not particularly receptive towards me. I wish I had gotten another opportunity, so that at least, she would know “where I was coming from”, but unfortunately, now, that is (to use another cliche) “water under the bridge”. By the way, somehow her name just popped into my head today, and I decided to do a google for “judy Simmons WLIB” and I learned of her death that way, though I’m far from being especially psychuc.

Yours truly,

Mark

]]> By: Horace Mungin http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1049 Horace Mungin Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:04:10 +0000 http://whosemedia.com/drums/2007/05/07/asante-sana-new-ancestor-judy-dothard-simmons/#comment-1049 "Whose wonderful body is that on the cover of your book "Decent Intentions" I asked Judy in 1983 when the book first appeared, but she wouldn't say. i had known her from appearing on her radio show and from appearing together in Blind Beggar press anthologies. Later she published me in Essence's "Say Brother"section and always told me that she loved my writing style. I moved south in '89 and she sometimes during the 90s. In 2002 I sent a book I had published. she called me and said that she love my writing style, but she didn't like the book. I asked her if I could come and wait on her -hand and foot - she was cool to the idea, but loved that I loved her. and when Baraka's girl died we talked about it, she said call him. I didn't. then I let too much time let between us saying hello and just today I fine that this fine lady has gone to rest and i look at the cover of her book and say Judy I know that's you. But that's not why I love you so. “Whose wonderful body is that on the cover of your book “Decent Intentions” I asked Judy in 1983 when the book first appeared, but she wouldn’t say. i had known her from appearing on her radio show and from appearing together in Blind Beggar press anthologies. Later she published me in Essence’s “Say Brother”section and always told me that she loved my writing style. I moved south in ‘89 and she sometimes during the 90s. In 2002 I sent a book I had published. she called me and said that she love my writing style, but she didn’t like the book. I asked her if I could come and wait on her -hand and foot - she was cool to the idea, but loved that I loved her. and when Baraka’s girl died we talked about it, she said call him. I didn’t. then I let too much time let between us saying hello and just today I fine that this fine lady has gone to rest and i look at the cover of her book and say Judy I know that’s you. But that’s not why I love you so.

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