Black Lives Matter

Purple Reigns: A BlackLivesMatter Tribute to Prince

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Thanks for loving us… —Opal Tometi
Thanks for loving us and leading us so fiercely. You truly invited each of us into being the most audacious and expansive version of our selves. I thank you for this and much more. Bless you, dear one. Rest well. —Opal Tometi
Prince Rogers Nelson by Alicia Garza
Prince Rogers Nelson. He belonged to all of us and yet he belonged to no one. He was a part of a mythical universe of which we had only seen small glimpses–because he was gracious enough to show them to us. He was from a world where you could be anything and anyone you wanted to be–as long as it was true to you. He was from a world where pleasure and desire and gratitude and unity were the pre-requisites for participating. He was from a world where peace and fairness and justice was the foundation for all life. He was from a world where Black was not only beautiful, but it was nuanced and complex and shifting and unapologetic and wise. He was from a world that many of us only dream about, and some of us strive to achieve. And though he was otherworldly, he was not without contradictions. That is why we loved him–because although he could show us the world that we are striving for, he was also human. He had longings. Desires. Pain and trauma. He made mistakes. Prince showed us that you don’t have to be perfect to be human. That our contradictions, in fact, are what makes us human. The key was self-awareness, and an unabashed leaning in to the contours of who were are as deeply flawed and deeply complicated human beings. He was a reflection of us. He was braver than us, but he showed us that there was glory in bravery, in courage, in purpose. His questions to us were simple and yet profound: What will it take for us to live free? He knew it would take a revolution, and through his life, he tried to show us what revolution could look like, feel like, taste like and ultimately just be like. Early on in the evolution of Black Lives Matter and this new upsurge of Black freedom dreams, he quietly and yet deliberately made sure that we had what we needed to be successful. I remember asking what we could do to acknowledge him, what could we do to show our gratitude and the response was to keep going. To keep building. To keep moving towards freedom. He didn’t need fanfare. He had millions of fans around the world. But he knew that what he didn’t have, what we didn’t have, was freedom. Like all of us trying to live free in this world that is powered by injustice and domination, he too was not completely and fully free. That too is a contradiction of what it means to see something, to be something that is not yet here. And yet there is a painful beauty inside of that. An agony that should push all of us to rid the world of the suffering that binds even the most visionary among us from truly realizing what is possible. And so in his moving on from this painful world, we remember that beauty is in the struggle to reclaim our dignity and humanity. We remember that for dignity to exist we cannot and must not throw anyone away. Prince Rogers Nelson. You have your life so that we could have the freedom to be. And the only way for us to repay that debt to you is to repay it to ourselves. We have nothing to lose but our chains. We love you dearly. Rest well, sweet angel.
Thank you By Patrisse Cullors
Thank you for having a good time here on planet Earth. Thank you for teaching us about Afro-futurism. Thank you for being present for all of our Blackness. Thank you for holding us accountable. Thank you for teaching us sexy. It’s been wonderful and tragic. You will be more than missed. Prince. You are our family. Love, Us.
Business Leadership and Community Keepers
Business Leadership and Community Keepers Rest in peace my brother Prince.
Madison sq garden 2011
My second Prince concert NY 2011, this was one of my happiest moments getting to see him again after an amazing concert in Minneapolis several years back. Seeing him perform was quite the experience I feel lucky to have witnessed it. He was the greatest of all time and is missed so much. Thank you Prince!
Rest Well, Dear Prince
When I was in middle school I was sick. I lost my hair, gained weight and really retreated within myself. I just listen to “Most Beautiful Girl in The World” and pretend that you were sining it to me. This is what held me together. How do you express the deep love you have for someone you never met? Your music was a light for me in the darkest of times and in my sadness I promise to continue to be a prism that shines on others. As I read about all of the black women you have helped along the way, please know that I am one of them even if you never knew. Rest well, dear Prince.
Transcendent Genius Gone Too Soon
Prince taught me that you can be a queer, beautiful human being and speak your truth. Prince taught me that women are for worship, awe, and can control the mind with a sway of hips, a touch of lips. Prince taught me that music can make you feel alive, make you think, make you proud, and make you move all in one bar. Prince’s guitar weeped, cried, wailed, and called on our black magic lost since past. Prince was mystery but so solid as an artist, performer, producer, lyricist, musician, writer….so many things. Thank you Prince for sharing with us and leaving us enough to feel even though your physical self has passed on.
Unapologetically Prince!
Unapologetically Black. Unapologetically Sexy. Unapologetically You! Through your music, you taught us what true creativity is. Thanks for saying, in music, what we needed to hear – that we are all beautiful, sexy, strong and powerful. . .vulnerable and needy . . . human spirits. Thanks for all you did behind the scenes to help those in need and those who needed a boost. Thanks for that rainbow over Paisley Park, letting us know that you felt our sadness AND that you are alright Love knows no bounds . . . no distance . . . no time . . .no death. You are eternally and forever loved! ! Watch over us, and every now and then, if you don’t mind, send us a sign. Maybe something purple – – like a purple sky or Purple Rain!
Prince: Beauty and Risk
His music and style iconically blended beauty and risk. His boldness primed paths for culture creation. His presence and posture powerfully modeled the complexities and diversities of black masculinity. I will never forget my encounters with the sound, as they have deeply inspired my artistic sensibilities. Salute to a legend who truly made his mark. Rest in #PeaceAndPower, Prince!
Forever purple
Prince. You raised me. You taught me about my own sexuality, my own creativity and to be who i really am. You are the most creative , lovely , androgenous creature god made and im grateful for every drop of your profound artistry. My missing you will never leave my cells I will just melt into this sadness and try and make something beautiful form the fabric of color you have left behind for us. Peace on your journey and well done. You will always be my greatest inspiration and the biggest babe of life. 💜☔️☮🙏🏾👑
RIP to the Purple One
There will never be another one like you. Thank you for your art, talent, and creativity. We miss and love you! RIP Prince Rogers Nelson…Purple Reigns!
#BLMPrinceMob – BLM:LA
A Man Unlike Any Other
Your music taught my heart how to move my body. You pulled the dancer out of me. You freed my feet. As a lover, a man, as a dancing soul I owe much gratitude to your Highness, Prince. I will carry a Purple flag in memory.
Thank You, Teacher
THANK YOU, TEACHER THERE USED 2 BE A TIME WHEN MUSIC WAS A SPIRITUAL HEALING 4 THE BODY, SOUL, & MIND… – LINER NOTES FROM ART OFFICIAL AGE Grief is a funny thing. The last two days I have learned a lot about its surprising, weird, loving, and uncontrollable nature. Prince’s death has let me grieve parts of my experience I didn’t even know I still needed to grieve. The tears come surprisingly – standing in front of the sink washing dishes and hearing a song that spoke to my being in a different way – watching a news report and seeing the death dash completed – dancing full out in my apartment hallway to “Lovesexy” and needing to dance my way to the box of tissues because I discover that tears are running down my face – and they are all welcome. It feels like a small price, and maybe even a reward that I don’t deserve. Heck, he did all the work. I get the gift of feeling my humanness deeper. I cry, I think, because I didn’t get to say thank you. I never met him. I didn’t have to. That’s exactly what art is about. That’s what liberation is about. We are supposed to express what is in us because we have no other choice but to do so. The problem is most of us think we do have another choice. We choose “safety” and “comfort” – not realizing that we’ve chosen the harder, less colorful, dreary path. In liberation, others are supposed to observe our living and feel the breeze of the opening of a window or a door letting us know that there is more life to be lived, to be faced, to be embraced. He did that SO beautifully, with such grace, with such humor, with such panache, such boldness, such sexiness and with such love. He did it so well – he LIVED liberation so well – that it felt like he was here with me trying to instruct and open doors for my own liberation. My own fears, internalized hate, limiting voices…he seemed like he had none of it, so it gave me the opportunity to see that I could live outside of all that. I didn’t know how, but he had figured out how to – he lived it so clearly – it must be possible for me, too. I feel like my Teacher died. As if with his death, my Teacher had pushed me out of the nest, out of the classroom – telling me that he had no more activities to offer. But it feels like he left in the middle of a lesson. I wasn’t finished learning from his example, his words, his clarity – his example was so beautiful and powerful – maybe he knew that I had gotten lazy and comfortable and that I would have sat hanging on his every word for the rest of my life and never actually walked out of the classroom myself. There he is teaching me even in death. His physical being will now forever be absent but the kindness of genius is that it always leaves something beautiful behind. And I know his teaching presence will always be near. Prince, thanks to you, there is still a time when music is a spiritual healing for the body, soul, and mind. And that time is now. As I listen to your catalog in its completion, it’s like re-reading a book and finding a new meaning in its pages – seeing the ways that I have shifted that allow your
#BLMM Loves You
Thanks for making music we could feel Memphis loves #prince #BLMM
OUR PURPLE SHINNING STAR
OUR BELOVED PRINCE YOU ARE & WILL ALWAYS BE OUR PURPLE SHINING STAR! AS YOU CAN SEE PURPLE IS MY FAVORITE COLOR TOO. I AM A STORYTELLING, ARTIST, YOGA TEACHER. AND I TELL MY YOUTH THAT LIFE IMITATE ART & ART IMITATES LIFE! SO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST! WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND MISS YOU! YOU ARE STILL HERE IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH THROUGH YOUR MUSICAL ARTISTRY! FOR THAT WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL!
Prince :The Humanitarian
I am profoundly Grateful to God, to have born a few years before you to have had you example to follow. My own Humanitarian acts joined with yours through the Universal language of sound that is music. Purple was my favorite color since I was 4 in 57. I will hold in my heart for eternity all the joy of doing good acts inspired by your example. & share the Joy of your own song, now woven into my soul & Spirit. We will see each other again one day. Now you Rest with the Angels. May all of us who grieve your loss & are inspired to walk in your footsteps, be surrounded safe & strong to continue your legacy. We were born to BlackLivesMatter & JOINED ALLIEDFOREVER BY HOLDING LOVE IN OUR HEARTS & COMPASSION FOR HUMANITY . The One True Calling. The One True God> We will try harder to reach our goals because you were here. We are Strengthened by your legacy. When each joins in the unity of your love. Purple Love is all we need. Rest with the Angels, Sweet Prince. Your joy Was in the Doing, & so is mine. May those same Angels surround All of us in this alliance & protect us every second of every day, until we are together again. Who are we if not the sum of our good acts. Love & Light, Mary Kelley
Thanx
For Prince, I thank the Universe
THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC. REST IN PURPLE.
The legend lives on
This is my tribute to a legend so full of talent, personality and most of all, love. Your music laid blueprints to show how music is constructed from your soul and to be who you are no matter what. Live free. The world misses you and you will forever live in our hearts.
🎼💜
Recalling the moments I was in your presence in 1982 while you performed at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during your “Controversy” Tour. Remembering the movement of the crowd that swayed with every breath you took. The screaming, the singing of your fans complemented the sounds coming from your stage. Memories like this seem to be lost but were in a vault in my mind reappearing this week as signs of the music, compassion and brilliance you left on earth for all time.
We go back like…
Your music has been part of the soundtrack of my life since way back when… We go back like when mom and dad were together When the weather wasn’t “Summer Soft” like Stevie Believe me We go back like 1st grade Like Better Made potato chips and Red Pop Faygo sips Like that time mama almost flipped when me and baby sis were singing the lyrics “I’ll jack you off” in the back seat she was playing in her tape deck Car almost wrecked, cause she hadn’t checked Such a funny memory I didn’t get ’til I was older Til my mature was bolder and colder We go back like hot summer Memphis nights with the windows rolled down while K97 played ‘Mountains’ and my brother Dennis couldn’t wait until “and the girls say” We go back like Sweet 16 parties and Lana Faye’s purple painted room where she’d swoon to every one of your tunes We go back like Erotic City on 45! (Yessss) trying to drown oppression’s sound, mama would play this joint on repeat til she felt better We go back like memories I wish I could forget, like lovers I still haven’t met, like “I’m hip” to “5000” to “Dope” to “Bet” We go back almost 42 years and your music is so timeless we ain’t done yet. #RIPower Prince by Cherisse Scott
The Prince Rogers Nelson Experience in the 70s And 80s
The Prince Rogers Nelson Experience In The 70s And 80s
To His Purple Majesty
Thank you Prince for always being an original, for showing us that we could define ourselves and choose to be more than one thing at a time. For being an example of creativity. For sharing your genius with us and always speaking up for Black people in your music, your music is a part of the soundtrack of our lives. You inspire us. And in your death, we get to know all you did behind the scenes to stand up for and take car of black people in their time of need. You will always be a part of our story, a Legend, an Icon, our Biggest supporter and for that we are truly grateful for you. Though your time on Earth was short, you did so much for so many and your legacy will live on in that, you left your mark. Rest in Peace, Your Purple Majesty. You are loved and your presence will be missed. #PurpleReignsForever
A rare bird
You were glorious. A genius. A consummate musician. A performer without peer. You made music for the ages. Love u 4eva 💜💜💜💜
Onelove PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Forever in my HEART
Dearly Beloved
All 7
Thank you for “7” Prince Rogers Nelson. You taught me about Revolutionary Love!
Our Prince Has Left The Building
Everything about your life was so artistically motivated by your love of self and black folks. You didn’t just talk revolution. You made it apart of early childhood lexicon along with Power & Soul. You traveled the world exchanging currencies of our human condition over music so masterfully that we literally for the next century could be fed off the fruit of your labor. Unapologetically Black. You were clearly in this world but very rarely were of it. When you were ‘of this world’ you ushered in legions of babies who no longer had to label their sexuality or gender to suit conventions and in the end helped us understand the most important thing – that we are so worthy so capable so creative and so absolutely beautiful. Not my brother not my friend but this Geminian enigma I will never completely comprehend but I will still bless your name on high and miss the hell out of you.
Our Prince has left the Building
Everything about your life was so artistically motivated by your love of self and black folks. You didn’t just talk revolution. You made it apart of early childhood lexicon along with Power & Soul. You traveled the world exchanging currencies of our human condition over music so masterfully that we literally for the next century could be fed off the fruit of your labor. Unapologetically Black. You were clearly in this world but very rarely were of it. When you were ‘of this world’ you ushered in legions of babies who no longer had to label their sexuality or gender to suit conventions and in the end helped us understand the most important thing – that we are so worthy so capable so creative and so absolutely beautiful. Not my brother not my friend but this Geminian enigma I will never completely comprehend but I will still bless your name on high and miss the hell out of you.
Purple Rain
Until The End Of Time…
Thank you for giving us so much of yourself. Thank you for showing us being different is badass. You will always be in my heart, soul & mind… until the end of time. 💜
I loved you.
I guess I thought you’d always be around. Giving me more incredible music, more one-word interview answers, more stoicism or sultriness or sexymotherfuckerness with those eyes, that voice, at once mocking and transcending everything that tried to contain or steer you. I expected an impervious-ness to something as common as death. There are so few constants in this world, and your brilliance in music, performance, virtuosity, YOU-ness–was one of those constants. I can’t believe you’re gone, and that we don’t get to share more time in this world with you. It wasn’t enough. ‪The only thing that has given me comfort is hoping that you’re right about that God and afterlife you so believed in. I hope you are there right now, smirking at all of us. I miss you. I love you. Thank you.
RIP Prince Roger Nelson. Shine like the fierce star you are, baby. Your talent will be SO SO SO missed. You set a standard for what RnB Pop could be. You could jam the fuck out and bring everyone with you on that jam. You seduced everyone with your amazing vocal range and sexy, dirty lyrics. No one in your generation can even touch what you accomplished in terms of style, substance, and music. You taught me so much about sex, seduction, and laughing at how ridiculous it was. You taught me about music, the beat, the harmonies, cadence and meter in writing songs/poetry, how to dance, spin and twirl my swagger, and let’s not forget a well placed row of buttons on an asymmetrical cowl neck or on the outside seam of a pair of pants. You were a drop dead sexy motherfucka and you knew it. I loved your last album, it showcased precisely why you were THE Prince of RnB Funk, that you were the ringmaster of the funky jam. I am in tears right now as I type this, crying for the loss of yet another one of my teeny bopper idols who happened to be a musical genius. You’ve been a part of my life since I was 9 and you brought so many beautiful moments and memories into my life, including friendships with other fans. The last time I saw you in concert, you made us respond to your call, I love you. And then you responded back with the sweetest I love you. It was a genuine I love you because the entire audience felt the love coming from that stage and your performance. Maybe we’ll see each other again under a cherry moon, sweet Prince. Til then, I’ll see your bright star shining down on us every night, Beautiful One. #RIPyoucrazydiamond
Let Your Works Speak
Thank you for showing the world the true definition of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Your compassionate love and care for people in need, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation is a lesson for us all.
Cultural Revolutionary. Trickster. Shape Shifter
We’re going to miss you so much. You taught so many of us how to survive, how to get and be free. We never imagined you’d join the ancestors so soon.
“Sometimes it snows in April. Sometimes l feel so bad, so bad. Sometimes I wish life was never ending, but all good things, they say, never last.” You are and forever will be the artist who taught me that music is a healer and a blessing. Thank you for the music your Royal Badness.
You’re gone much too fast.
Yours was the first concert I ever attended. Even though it was in 1985 in Houston, Texas; it seems just like yesterday. 💜💜💜💜☔️☔️☔️☔️ I will always remember👑 PRINCE.
Prince forever
“If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you.”
BlackLove2Infinity
Prince supported ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ and left profound words of advice for leaders across the nation. Black Lives Matter Lansing joins our family around the world in celebrating the love, life and legacy of His Royal Badness and Blackness. Prince was a one-man movement who brought power to his industry in an unforgettable protest to own his identity and work. His humanity, philanthropy, musical genius and quiet yet powerful activism through unapologetic self-expression will ‪#‎NevaB4GotN‬ #‎sayhisname‬ ‪#‎Prince
A section of reality peeled away when Prince died. I found Prince or rather Prince found me, for the first time; singing out of a dusty cassette tape in the back closet under an old family Bible behind Mahalia Jackson. Discarded and hidden, there, Prince became a road map to love, from a casual genius that defined sound and the texture of life.
Live4Love Love U Prince
It’s heartbreaking to be in a world without u in here, but Yet you remain in our hearts FOREVER! Rest Well Sweet Prince! U have given me a soundtrack for living and love! With Eternal Gratitude, Thank You!
I’m Devestated
Today, I’m absolutely devastated to hear that Prince has passed away so suddenly. It’s one of those feelings you get when someone close like a family member passes away. Prince had such a huge impact on me growing up, coming out as queer, and just helping me feel like it was okay to be in touch with my sexuality and femininity as a man. Prince was the first man I’d ever seen wear heels and makeup on TV and got praise for it. He taught me it was okay to be unapologetically you and pretty as hell while doing it. Prince gave so much life to Minnesota and the world through his music and his existence, no other artist will transend like he did. – Michael McDowell
BLM Loves Prince
Thank You —The Movement
BLM Visual Love Letter to Prince Choreography