“Firm, and humorous, assurance that the diversity of American perspectives is a strength”

From left: Shemekia Copeland, John Prine, John Hahn and Will Kimbrough. (Courtesy of John Hahn)

“Oh my God, Will,” Shemekia Copeland suddenly says in the middle of a joint interview with the producer of her latest album. “Will, I was in Bangor, Maine — and you can’t get whiter than that, up there, you can’t. I mean, you could try, but it just doesn’t happen. And I did ‘Would You Take My Blood’ and I got a standing ovation.”

“Wow,” says Will Kimbrough. He’s familiar with the song in question, knows it’s a challenging one in which the singer confronts a racist, asking if he’d rather bleed to death than accept a transfusion from her, a black woman.

“That surprised me,” she says, wonder in her voice. “It really, really surprised me.” (…) 

It’s got plenty more including a firm, and humorous, assurance that the diversity of American perspectives is a strength; a belief that citizens of all stripes share the same concern about the current climate and need the same soothing; and a transformative Kinks cover. (…) 

By Lawrence Specker. Read the full and very detailed “Truth and healing: Shemekia Copeland, Alabama producer deliver ‘America’s Child'” interview and story in Alabama.com.